3:15 – 4:30 P.M. Wednesday, July 13
Room: Catalina A1
Deconstructing the Culture of Bullying: Balancing Emotional, Mental, & Behavioral Health
Bullies, targets of bullying, and bystanders all have one thing in common: trauma experience. But each of these people reacts differently. A bully was bullied in the past and has now become the bully. The bully targets individuals because they lack self-awareness, confidence, and a healthy support circle. They become easy targets because of the perceiving of being weak. The bystanders either step in or ignore the bullying, but they usually have no idea how to respond to the trauma appropriately. People in all three of these categories have poor emotional health and lack self-awareness, confidence, and a healthy support circle. This mindset results in their having low or no coping and resiliency skills. Without these skills, they cannot experience or give kindness, empathy, or compassion at a healthy level.
Solutions: Techniques, Strategies, and Tools: Identify and replace malicious and unwanted behaviors by shifting distorted perspectives and by changing self-limiting beliefs. This practice is supported by setting boundaries and expectations of growth and fostered by a supportive, compassionate, and empathic circle. We are not asking you to change. We are helping you find your authentic self.
Presenter: Pamela Gockley, Executive Director – The Camel Project
Room: Catalina A2
Our Students Are Not For Sale: A Trauma-Responsive Approach to Supporting Students in Foster Care Impacted by Human Trafficking
This training will help participants use a trauma-informed lens to understand how human trafficking impacts students in foster care and other vulnerable student groups. Participants will learn strategies and tips to address the needs of students affected by both trauma and human trafficking and prevent it in schools. It will create awareness of the need to take a proactive stance against human trafficking in K-12 schools and surrounding communities. Participants will receive resources and other valuable materials to educate staff, parents, caregivers, and others working with students.
Presenters: Kimberly Faulkner-Camacho – LACOE Foster Youth Services Technical Assistance Program & Dr. Lakeah Dickerson, Coordinator II – LACOE Community Health & Safe Schools
Room: Catalina A3
Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students
Transgender and non-binary youth in today’s schools face daily and persistent harassment, bullying and discrimination. These students cannot learn when they are managing constant anxiety, fear, anguish or depression. What they need most are educational environments where the culture and climate are safe, inclusive, and empowering for them to reach their highest potential as their authentic selves.
Led by one of the country’s leading authorities on transgender and non-binary youth, this session provides educators the tools and resources they need to more deeply understand issues around gender diversity, and use this knowledge to support, respect and empower our youth. This session will cover topics from understanding gender identity and state laws to incorporating best practices that create safe and inclusive environments in homes, schools and communities. There will also be time to discuss participants’ specific challenges and questions, with feedback based on the presenter’s years of experience.
Presenters: Kathie Moehlig, Executive Director & Evan Johnson, Community & Youth Program Manager – TransFamily Support Services
Room: Catalina C1
Nationally Recognized Event Security Certified Training
Eighty percent of the lawsuits in the school industry are about supervision, or lack of. The courts have consistently ruled that schools must provide a reasonable standard of care. Most after-school event problems are preventable if we can only learn how to supervise.
The colleges and universities are not spending sufficient time teaching future educators how to actively supervise a crowd. Schools assume future educators know how to manage. Besides teachers, we have assistant teachers, hall monitors, bus drivers, secretarial personnel, and school staff working our events.
We make a mistake in allowing event workers to watch, not work the event. They should scan their section of bleachers every few minutes, looking for frustration and anger issues: listen for loud obnoxious voices criticizing officials, opponents, and coaches. Once identifying the misguided fan, watch them by using pattern matching recognition. Identify them with apparel; it will be easier to pick them out of a crowd.
Sometimes we can de-escalate a spectator by watching them if they know it. If they continue to verbally abuse, try a non-verbal hand or facial expression, letting them know their behavior is unacceptable. A worker could position themselves closer to the irate fan. If they are sitting thirty rows up, sit by them. If they are closer to the playing surface, stand by them. If the fan continues to be upset, the event worker needs to address the individual. There is a right way and wrong way to intervene.
This presentation will explain how to properly de-escalate an individual who’s angry using techniques that all school official and security personnel should be working on today. We can do this, but keep in mind: it will not happen overnight. Continuous improvement is the name of the game-practice, practice method.
Presenter: Jay Hammes, CMAA - National Faculty Instructor NIAAA President & Founder – Safe Sport Zone, LLC
Room: Catalina C2
Gang Awareness
The Gang Awareness workshop will present on topics related to the mission and responsibilities of enforcement, investigations and suppression of gang related crimes. It will include an overview of gang culture, politics and requirements as they relate to juveniles and school aged youth. Workshop will provide examples of indicators of gang-related activity and signs for identifying possible at-risk youth. Deputies will discuss resources, partnerships and interventions utilized for protecting students from gang influence.
Presenters: Deputy Justin Jimenez & Deputy Brendan Pefley – Orange County Sheriff’s Department
Room: Catalina C3
Options-Based Response: What the Research Tells Us
There are currently two competing paradigms informing civilian active assailant approaches: single-option traditional lockdown and options-based responses. While there is much anecdotal evidence to draw upon concerning the effectiveness of each approach, empirical evidence on the issue has been absent. Seeking to fill that empirical void, two studies were recently conducted that give schools important operational information for use when responding to an active assailant. The findings suggest that options-based approaches appear to be more effective than traditional lockdown in the survival of students.Participants will understand:1. How Options-Based Response Training Promotes Resilient Outcomes.2. How Law Enforcement and Teachers Play an Important Role in the Implementation of an Options-Based Response.3. The Best Practices and Processes for Implementation of Option-Based Response Policies.
Presenter: Vicki Abbinante, Ph.D., School Safety Researcher & Resilience Consultant – Will County Emergency Management Agency, Illinois
Room: Avalon 2
We are Back, Now What?
Educating students, keeping them safe and motivated as we go in and out of a pandemic is a collaborative effort. Attendance is down; discipline is up; parents need answers; students want answers; and direction. This is a critical time in education; this workshop will give perspectives from two experienced educators from North Carolina!
Presenters: Dr. Shawan B. Woodard, Associate Head of School & Daryl M. Woodard, M.S., Head of School – Wilson Preparatory Academy, North Carolina
Room: Avalon 3
Are You Ready? Are We Prepared? Disaster Preparedness in Schools
Disasters are increasing in in frequency, severity, and complexity. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services will introduce the new Emergency Management for Schools Guide for school districts and sites, provide an overview of other helpful resources for all phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. And, finally, present the new Preparedness Ambassadors Program, Disaster Preparedness for California students - a comprehensive curriculum to engage students in developing and promoting disaster preparedness for their homes, schools, and communities. Because disasters are a matter of when, not if.
Presenters: Danielle Chapman-Huizar, Emergency Services Coordinator; Nick Murray, Senior Emergency Services Coordinator; & Noele Richmond, Program Manager I – Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Room: Anacapa
Student Engagement is a Critical Component in building a Safe School Climate
In 2020, the University of Southern California (USC) launched the Safe School Climate Certificate (SSCC) program through the Safe Communities Institute (SCI). The SSCC program offers Law Enforcement and Educators a professional development opportunity to learn the latest research and critical issues impacting a Safe School Environment. The core curriculum of the certificate program participants become trainers of an evidence based student engagement model that serves as the mechanism for building and sustaining a safe school climate. John Vandenburgh, the lead instructor for the SSCC will share the program strategies of the student engagement model, how it utilizes the Safe Schools Initiative recommendations in the action plans, and why the USC Safe Communities Institute has identified it as essential when building a safe school climate.
Presenter: John Vandenburgh, Executive Director – Protect Connect Educate Solutions