Conference home page

Conference Overview:

Sponsorship:

Speaking:

Supported by:

Detailed Conference Agenda

DAY ONE: Wednesday April 2nd, 2008

7:30 AM

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:15 AM

Opening Comments From The Chair

Bill Byrd, Safe Schools Administrator, Coordinator of Leadership and Staff Development, Safe Schools Office, Toronto District School Board

8:30 AM

Opening Address

Understanding the Roots of Bullying and Developing Strategies for Preventing It

Bullying occurs at all levels, from primary to university, male and female. Bullying is also the most important safety concern among educators, and the most difficult to prevent. It is also the most serious, as most school shooters were victims of bullying.

• Understand the root causes of bullying and its reach
• Design a program that attacks the root causes
• Learn to spot the warning signs of a bullying victim

Learn pro-active strategies to prevent bullying at all levels.

Debra Pepler, Senior Executive Member of the LaMarsh Centre for Research on Violence and Conflict Resolution, and Distinguished Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University

9:15 AM

Case Study: Delaware State University

Administering an Effective Lockdown to Prevent or Limit Casualties

As Virginia Tech has made clear, getting the message out to students and securing a campus requires a clear plan and an effective notification system. Managing the security of a school or university during an active threat requires clear duties and quick communication systems.

• Leverage the reach of technology in warning students and staff of threats
• Create an action plan that allows you to quickly control access points
• Set up a monitoring system that provides real execution assessment

Be aware of the systems and strategies you can implement to prevent or limit violence at schools and universities.

Belinda Baker, Captain, Operations Division Commander, Delaware State University, Dover, DE

10:00 AM

Networking Break

Interact with conference speakers and fellow attendees.

10:30 AM

Special Keynote Address

Preventing Sexual Assault and Cyber Misconduct in our Schools

During this illuminating special presentation, Katie weaves together her own experience with date rape with fifteen years of research and practice in improving school responses and prevention strategies for sexual and cyber misconduct.  Learn the practical policy strategies, protocols, and training programs that have assisted over 1,500 schools in North America.

• Understand current trends and risks for sexual and technology-related misconduct
• Benchmark your procedures against international systems
• Build real, comprehensive solutions for reducing sexual harassmentand assault
• Learn best practices and create a clear course of action to respond effectively to incidents
• Learn how email, sharing sites, and other social networking outlets can be used for perpetrating and preventing sexual misconduct in the academic environment and how to better reduce risk in these ever-changing areas

Katie Koestner, Executive Director, Campus Outreach Services

12:00 PM

Networking Luncheon

Join the conference speakers and your peers for a relaxing luncheon. This is your opportunity to make new contacts and discuss ideas.

1:30 PM

Case Study: University of Texas at Austin

Increasing Access to Student Services to Prevent Violence on Campus

Preventing tragedies in schools and universities takes a holistic approach. Administrators must work with many parties to ensure adequate resources are available. Learn how to:

• Educate staff on recognizing signs of distress, and provide options for reporting them
• Have systems in place that address behavioural concerns
• Provide and educate students on resources available to them
• Work effectively with mental health experts, students, and teachers

LaToya Hill, Coordinator, Student Emergency Services, University of Texas at Austin

2:15 PM

Case Study: Peel Police SPEAR Program

A pre-event plan can greatly increase the effectiveness of an emergency response. In conjunction with school boards, Peel police were the first police force in Canada to develop a database complete with maps and infrastructure knowledge that allows police to secure a scene quickly and effectively.

• Learn how to set up similar programs in your district
• Hear about some of the success this program has experienced
• See how adaptable the SPEAR program can be

Create an effect pre-event plan to limit violence at your school.

Grace Kempers, SPEAR Coordinator, Peel Police
Christine McIntyre, Detective, Youth Crime Coordinator, Peel Police

3:00 PM

Networking Break

3:30 PM

Case Study: Georgetown University

Threat Assessments: Creating a Functionally Safe School Building to Maximize Security

With multiple buildings and entrances at most schools and campuses, security officials must be prepared for many contingencies. Learn how to maintain security at your school or university using proactive strategies.

• Evaluate your building plans, and prepare a strategy that addresses your school’s layout
• Learn how to develop a comprehensive security plan
• Reduce your risk through landscaping and lighting

Familiarize yourself with the role design can play in keeping your school safe.

Rocco (Rocky) DelMonaco, Jr., Vice President for University Safety, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

4:15 PM

How to Involve Students, Administrators, and Police, To Better Manage Guns and Gangs in Schools

While gangs and gang violence may appear limited to a few schools, their impact is felt across many school districts, with administrators often unaware. Recognizing the potential threat is only the beginning.

• Understand how gangs operate and the solutions you can implement
• Know the best practices for handling gang activity in your school
• Gain a greater knowledge of why students join gangs

Michael Matic, Staff Sergeant, Toronto Police Services, PEACE Program

5:00 PM

CONFERENCE ADJOURNS to Day Two

Day Two: Thursday April 3rd, 2008

7:30 AM

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:15 AM

Opening Comments from the Chair

Bill Byrd, Safe Schools Administrator, Coordinator of Leadership and Staff Development, Safe Schools Office, Toronto District School Board

8:30 AM

Case Study: Toronto District School Board

Managing Media Attention During and After a Violent Event

Dealing with unwanted media attention can happen surprisingly quickly. Knowing how to handle media-intense situations requires a clear plan of action and the cooperation of all your school’s administrative personnel.

• Learn how to create an action plan that can be initiated right away
• Develop a clear plan for working with the media to limit negative press, and control your message
• Understand how to use the media to reassure parents, students, and the public, that the situation is under control

Become more media-aware and learn how to use the media in a positive manner.

Bill Byrd, Safe Schools Administrator, Coordinator of Leadership and Staff Development, Safe Schools Office, Toronto District School Board

9:15 AM

Industry Expert

Understanding your Legal Rights and Obligations as a School and an Educator

Violence in schools and on campuses takes many forms, from overt violent acts to veiled threats and innuendo. When confronted with a potentially violent student, knowing how to respond correctly is essential to avoiding lawsuits.

• When can administrators intervene?
• Legally, what is considered an appropriate response?
• How do you deal with the aftermath?

Understand how to legally and effectively deal with violent or threatening students.

Eric Roher, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP

10:00 AM

Networking Break

Interact with conference speakers and fellow attendees.

10:30 AM

Best Practices in Handling Imminent Threats: Create Your Action Plan

If a student threatens to commit a violent act at school, do you know how you should handle it? Reacting properly can prevent a tragedy and save lives.

• Clarify the first steps you need to take
• Learn how to calmly diffuse the situation
• Understand the necessary protocols for dealing with dangerous situations

Gain a better understanding of how to handle dangerous threats.

Darlene Marsh, Manager, Center for the Prevention of Violence, Raleigh, NC

11:15 AM

Case Study: Ottawa-Carlton District School Board

Responding to life-threatening emergencies in our schools — Lessons Learned

Targeted threats and violence in schools require a comprehensive 'safe schools' action plan, developed and coordinated in partnership with police services and other 'first responders'. Drawing on first-hand experiences in a large urban school board, this session will help participants:

• Understand the critical importance of creating and maintaining a positive safe school climate
• Become aware of threat assessment and management of high risk, life threatening students behaviours
• Benefit from lessons learned on the importance of a planned integrated emergency response plan that focuses on prevention and school recovery

Dan Wiseman, (Former) Manager of Safe Schools and Community Agency Liaison, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

12:00 PM

Networking Luncheon

Join the conference speakers and your peers for a relaxing luncheon. This is your opportunity to make new contacts and discuss ideas presented in the morning sessions.

1:30 PM

Case Study: GEAR UP Queens, NY

Establishing Effective After-School Programs to Lower Violence in Schools

Because most school violence takes place just after school, providing after-school programs for at-risk students can help lower school violence rates. The GEAR UP program in Queens, NY, has lowered violence rates, improved academic performance, and increased high school graduation rates and university enrolment.

• Understand the social and educational benefits of an after-school program
• Learn how to start an after-school program at your school
• Hear the many successes this program has produced and how to recreate them

Yvette Morgan, Co-Director, GEAR UP, St. John’s University, Queens, NY

2:15 PM

Industry Expert:

Setting an Industry Standard for Providing Safer Schools

Many schools in high-risk communities receive inadequate security financing, which greatly hampers their ability to provide key security options, such as mass communication systems.

• Understand the importance of setting an industry standard
• What benchmarks should be in place for optimum security
• Hear the many successes some districts have produced

Benchmark your school’s safety plan against the desired industry standard.

Kim Carr, Manager, Public Safety and Security, Durham College, and the University of Ontario

3:15 PM

Closing Address

Understanding Violence in Schools from the Student’s Perspective

Hear an open and frank discussion of how violence has affected students. They share their experiences and discuss the initiatives and solutions they believe would have benefited them.

• Gain a new perspective in how to battle student violence
• Learn how to spot the signs of violence, from the student’s perspective
• Collaborate with students to prevent violence in schools

Expand your understanding of how violence affects students.

Youth LOVE Leader, Leave Out Violence Everywhere Representative

4:00 PM

CONFERENCE ADJOURNS