Crises don't begin at the moment of violence; rather, they begin long before, in the early warning signs that too often go unnoticed, unshared, or uncoordinated. In this session, participants will learn how effective Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) depends on shared leadership across schools, law enforcement, clinical providers, emergency management, and community partners. Drawing from real K12 targeted violence cases, this session demonstrates how coordinated information sharing, clearly defined roles, and relationship‑centered decision‑making can transform early concern into timely, effective intervention. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to strengthen collaboration, reduce risk, and support students before a crisis takes shape.

A student on a pathway to violence doesn't start with ideology - they start with grievance, hopelessness, and disconnection. In this compelling case study, Dr. Bruno Dias walks participants through a real intervention where early indicators of radicalization were identified and addressed before harm occurred. Using a disciplined BTAM approach, he reveals how looking past ideology to the underlying drivers allowed a multidisciplinary team to restore protective factors, rebuild hope, and interrupt movement toward mobilization. Attendees will leave with clear decision points, actionable strategies, and a defensible BTAM workflow they can apply immediately in their own settings.

This dynamic split session brings together two powerful, upstream approaches to school safety. First, Abbie Rosenberg, PMHNP-BC, RN of Mental Health Collaborative breaks down Tier 1 mental health literacy, providing educators and participants with the tools, language, and confidence to recognize concerns early and respond effectively before crises escalate. Then, the award‑winning Aevidum Club from Penn Manor High School takes the stage to share how their student‑designed Invent2Prevent campaign increased schoolwide connectedness by 35%, strengthening the single strongest protective factor against targeted violence and suicide. Together, these sessions show how universal mental health skills and student‑driven connection can transform a schools climate and dramatically reduce risk.

School safety planning can feel overwhelming with so many strategies, so many requirements, and no easy way to see how it all fits together. This session introduces a free, web‑based tool from the National Center for School Safety designed to bring clarity to the chaos. Learn how this comprehensive framework helps schools organize their efforts, identify gaps, streamline decision‑making, and build a cohesive, actionable safety plan. If you have ever wished for a single place to put it all together, this is the session you won't want to miss.

Trauma is often an unseen engine driving challenging behavior, escalation, and youth involvement in violence. This expert panel brings together leaders from law enforcement, juvenile justice, and school‑based practice to unpack how trauma shapes decision‑making and how adults can respond in ways that redirect rather than punish. Through a strengths‑based, trauma‑informed lens, panelists will share concrete, actionable strategies for engaging youth in crisis, building trust, de‑escalating conflict, and guiding students toward safer, more pro‑social outcomes. Attendees will walk away with practical tools they can use immediately to support the young people who need it most.

In a landscape dominated by reactive security measures, this session reframes school safety as a relational ecosystem—one where connection, culture, and care are as essential as cameras and locks. Through an interdisciplinary panel drawing on CPTED, PASS, mental health, and trauma‑informed practice, participants will explore how human‑centered design and collaborative prevention strategies create safer, more resilient school communities. Attendees will learn how communities, the built environment, school culture, and student well‑being intersect to shape psychological safety—and walk away with actionable approaches to shift from compliance‑driven security to connection‑based prevention. 

When budgets are tight, but security needs keep growing, schools face tough decisions about where to invest and how to integrate systems without wasting time or money. This panel brings together experts in physical security, technology integration, and visitor management to break down how to build a cohesive security ecosystem including access control, video, visitor management, and smart credentials; without overspending or starting from scratch. Participants will learn how to evaluate existing infrastructure, prioritize upgrades, avoid common pitfalls, and move toward an integrated solution that improves visibility, efficiency, and safety. Whether you are planning your first upgrade or migrating from legacy systems, this session offers clear, actionable guidance to help you make smart, sustainable security decisions.

Confused by TCC, 764, Groypers, and nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) groups targeting students? You are not alone and you are not powerless. In this closing keynote, Allizandra Herberhold of Seeking Safer Pathways will explain the TCC Stoplight Protocol, used with BTAM Teams to detect and prevent school-based attacks. Allizandra is a NVE expert and deradicalization mentor who works with families, schools, and law enforcement agencies in violence prevention.  Leave with clarity, confidence, and tools to protect students before ideology becomes mobilization.

What does it really take to keep schools safe? Not a single solution—but a connected system. You’re not alone in tackling this challenge—and you’re not without a path forward.

In the closing address, Christin Kinman, MPH brings the summit full circle, translating a day of insights into a clear, public health–driven framework for action. Drawing on expertise in systems-based school safety, she connects the dots across students, schools, community partners, healthcare, and public safety—showing how risk develops, where gaps emerge, and how coordinated prevention can stop it early.

Join speakers, sponsors and other attendees for a networking happy hour.