All 2017 Workshops

3:15 – 4:30 P.M. Wednesday, July 19

Dealing With A Threat To Your Campus And The Follow-Up Communications

Presenters: Will Mynster, Ed.D, Laura Rubio, Jennifer Williams and Sergeant Radus

Sexual Abuse in Schools -How do we make it stop?

Despite the annual Mandated Reporter training for school employees, sexual abuse claims continue to be a challenge. The California Supreme Court is reviewing legislation that would eliminate the statute of limitations on abuse claims. If passed, the financial consequences would be significant. Whether the legislation is upheld or not, the abuse needs to stop. An established abuse prevention program will protect kids, schools and your community. This session focuses on preventing abuse before it happens. Attendees will be provided with tools, knowledge and understanding about grooming behaviors that will empower employees to take action.

Presenter: Keenan (NAMES)

Restorative Justice: An Insider’s Perspective

From 45-year prison term to law-abiding citizen. Learn how restorative-justice principles change lives. Offering first-person story showing transformation from prisoner to good citizenship.

Presenter: Michael Santos

Decrease Student Suspensions and Expulsions While Increasing Student Engagement

Presenter: Collaborative Learning Solutions (NAMES)

Creating a Safe and Supportive School Climate For All –From Assessment to Implementation

According to the 2013-15 California Healthy Kids Survey, one in three high school students reported being bulled or harassed at school and one in five experienced cyber bullying. In addition, one in three cannot report at least one caring adults at school; and half do not feel part of the school. One-third reported chronic sadness and one in five high school students reported suicidal ideation. In other words, we are failing one in three students in our schools!

What can we do to collectively create a safe and caring learning environment for our students, and a equally supportive teaching environment for our staff?

While ‘School Climate’ is one of the eight state priorities in the Local Control and Accountability Plan, it is the fundamental piece. A school with a safe, supportive, and respectful climate supports learning and teaching, and allow students to take advantage of the challenging curriculum and engaging instruction provided by the school staff.

This workshop will explore the many aspects of school climate: from assessment, selection of strategies, to implementation. We will share tools and resources from a five year federal pilot project, California Safe and Supportive Schools, as well as ongoing school climate resources from the California Department of Education.

Presenter: Hilva Chan –Education Program Consultant –California Department of Education

Resource Officers 101

Description goes here

Presenter: Vlad Anderson

Debunking the Myths: “All About that Vape”

The recent emergence of electronic cigarettes and vapes has created differing messages about dangers of use from the prevention community and the enticing advertising techniques used to gain customers. These products appeal to youth because of flashy technology, appealing flavors, and as a trendy habit. But youth may not understand nicotine’s addictive properties or the consequences the other chemicals found in electronic cigarette vapor may have to their health. This presentation was developed as a collaborative effort between the Orange county Department of Education and America on Track because of concerns about inaccurate information students were receiving from peers and the media about these products. This workshop will provide attendees the knowledge to present this 45 min – 1 hour presentation with youth and provide further resources about these products. The target population is middle and high school students. The presentation has three components: 1) a trivia game about the chemicals found in these products and dangers associated with their use, 2) advertising techniques tobacco and vaping companies use to entice users, and 3) ways students can say no and still keep their friends. Attendees will also receive a link to download a copy of the presentation.

Presenter: Ryan Crowdis –Project Manager, Tobacco Use Prevention Education –Orange County Department of Education

8:30 – 9:45 A.M. Thursday, July 20

Safe Schools: Utilizing Youth Development Strategies to address racism, gangs, violence and bullying.

One of the many goals of the presentation is for participants to develop a strong understanding of the impact group identity has on individual adolescent behavior, particularly with racism, gangs, violence, and bullying. Educators must understand the importance of developing programs that foster relationships among youth and developing a sense of belonging for youth to a group. Our youth are simply growing up in a violent culture that invests itself in a code of silence. As educators, we must counter this and develop a culture of communication, where students feel connected to one another and responsible for the outcomes of their campus culture.

Presenter: John Vandenburgh – Executive Director, PCE Solutions

Community Policing to Create Safer Schools

Digital communication and social media are a permanent fixture and influence in our students’ world. This presentation will explore opportunities for partnerships between school resource officers, law enforcement agents and educators to teach students responsible use of social media and digital communication. Using case studies, the presenters will show how the schools activities program can be the vehicle used to not only present this important content to students, but also create a trust between the student body and law enforcement to positively change the culture from reactive to proactive. The user friendly presentation shows an effective approach in teaching responsible use of social media to students, parents and the community and includes a student produced “PSA” showing the power of “Pause Before you Post”.

Presenters: Mitch Brouillette –School Resource Officer –Brentwood PD/Heritage High School and Jessica Banchieri & Title

Homegrown Violent Extremism (HVE)

The threat from terrorism touches every corner of the globe, and the United States is facing a troubling increase in homegrown violent extremism (HVE). Understanding the need for our communities to respond to the risk of HVE, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy has initiated the Homegrown Violent Extremism Studies Program.

Extremism is a primary feature of terrorist behavior. Violent extremism occurs when individuals or groups openly express their ideological beliefs through violence or a call for violence. There is a distinct difference between “terrorist” and “extremist” organizations. So long as extremist groups do not explicitly endorse violence, their beliefs and ideology are protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Presenter: Juan Noguera –Program Manager –University of Southern California

Responding to Social Media Emergencies on your Campus

Social media is a major piece of students’ lives every day. Working in teams, groups will work to investigate and respond to social media issues that come up on your campus. Attendees will evaluate and respond to a social media issue taking into account current laws around personal devices, like cell phones, and work to resolve issues locally related to a social media incident.

Presenter: Matthew Soeth –#ICANHELP Co-Founder

Reducing Substance Use at School with Peer-to-Peer Restorative Accountability

Changes in law have normalized and reduced the perceived harm of marijuana. Youth are using “weed” much earlier and the increased potency has made the drug dangerous and additive; this confluence poses a perfect storm for youth dysfunction and educational failure.

In preparation for the impact legal recreational marijuana will have on student academic success the YMCA Marin County Youth Court has piloted successful evidence based environmental prevention intervention that uses restorative peer-to-peer accountability to increase the perceived harm of using marijuana at school.

The Novato Unified School District (NUSD) used this program with great success. The NUSD California Healthy Kids Survey reported a 25% reduction in the 11th grade 30 day use of both marijuana and alcohol by 25% between 2011 and 2013.

This workshop will provide participants with the information necessary to replicate this successful evidence based environmental prevention strategy.

Presenter: Don Carney –Director of Restorative Services –YMCA Youth Court

Breaking Down the Bullying Infrastructure in Schools

Conflict is almost certain whenever people from different backgrounds are placed in the same setting. This is particularly true for public programs that serve a diverse group of youth. However, when confronted with repetitive behaviors intended to harm, many adolescents do not have the skill set to combat bullying behaviors. In order to lessen the impact of bullying behaviors in public programs, interventions must target both the victims and the bullies. Youth who are targets of bullying should be taught the appropriate responses to bullying behavior. Youth who are labeled as bullies should be taught to use his/her natural leadership ability for pro-social change in schools and the elevation of peers. This session will address the social structure of bullying and action steps for professionals to follow when bullies and victims are identified.

Presenter: Dr. Eric Landers –Associate Professor –Georgia Southern University

10:00 – 11:15 A.M. Thursday, July 20

Hazing: Is your School Prepared?

This workshop will allow the attendees to learn how to:

Understand Hazing and how it is different than bullying
How to prevent hazing and Bullying
How to detect warning signs that hazing and bullying are occurring
How to help victims of hazing
How to empower bystanders
How to heal the community
How to handle the press and social medial if the problem spirals out of control

Presenter: Dennis Goodwin – Co-Founder –Anti Hazing Collaborative

Restorative Justice: An Insider’s Perspectiv

From 45-year prison term to law-abiding citizen. Learn how restorative-justice principles change lives. Offering first-person story showing transformation from prisoner to good citizenship.

Presenter: Michael Santos

LGBTQ and Gender Inclusive Classrooms: Bias and Bullying Prevention

At school, many children are brutally harassed and teased about their bodies, languages spoken, gender, racial/ethnic identity, sexual orientation, and family diversity. Yet, California laws protect against discrimination at school, and require the inclusion of contributions of diverse communities, including LGBTQ individuals, in K-12 curriculum. (www.myschoolmyrights.com).

Presenter: Sharon Chappell –Associate Professor, Elementary and Bilingual Education –California State University

Three Perspectives of Crisis: Students Parents and You

Dealing with loss affects every aspect of a child’s life. Often, families do not talk to each other about death thus making it difficult for children to process the death. Participating in groups designed to address death, provides a platform for children to express their thought, and beliefs regarding death. It is necessary to address key components of grief in an age appropriate manner in an effort to facilitate the development of healthy coping skills. The facilitation of a grief group provides a safe environment for children to come together and gain the necessary tools to progress through the grieving process.

Presenter: Regina Siez –LCSW,PPS – PCE Solutions

Stockton Case Study: How a focus on school safety and student voice raised graduation rates

Presenters: Reyes Gauna and Jillian Glende

1:45 – 3:00 P.M. Thursday, July 20

Building a Positive School Climate: A Researched-based Approach

Schools face several challenges in building or maintaining positive climates including bullying, gang presence, violence, conflicts, sexual harassment, drug possession and use, lack of connections to positive adults and the negative impact of social media. Building a positive school climate is not only a requirement through the Local Community Action Plan (LCAP) but has long been a part of the mandatory safe schools plans (EC 32280 – 32289). This session will examine the root causes that can negatively impact a positive climate including the “culture of cruelty” that may be a part of some youth groups in schools. The session will quickly examine how popular culture feeds into cruel and mean behaviors. The focus of the session will be current research and best practices in building a positive climate and culture. Attendees will be provided several common sense tools to assist in assessing and building a positive climate.

Presenter: Wayne Sakamoto –Executive Director –California School Resource Officers’ Association

“School Emergency – how do we handle the Deaf and Hard of Hearing?”

This workshop will detail the method by which to notify and continue to update deaf and hard of hearing students in the event of an emergency by the use of Real-Time Captioning / CART Services.

Presenters: Melissa Sosa and Antha Ward

Developing Digital Leaders

#ICANHELP works with students, teachers, counselors and administrators to provide a structure to deal with social media issues on or off school campus. Through training, we work to develop skills in students to respond to negativity online and act as digital first responders and spread positive messages. We work with staff on ways to support, model and engage students on social media to limit online drama. In addition, we will provide resources and structure so that social media use at your school is proactive and not reactive. We will provide case studies from schools as well as lesson samples you can use at your school.

Presenter: Matthew Soeth –#ICANHELP Co-Founder

Overview of Human Trafficking And Identifying The Red Flags That Are Associated With It

The purpose of the of the class is to give School Resource Officers and educators a basic awareness of Human Trafficking and how to identify the signs to inquire about it.

Presenter: Investigator Jeff Jensen

Breaking Down the Bullying Infrastructure in Schools

Presenter: Dr. Eric Landers –Associate Professor –Georgia Southern University

PBIS: Universal Framework for Safe School

The fundamental purpose of SW-PBS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) is to make schools Safe, Positive, Consistent, and Predictable (Horner, 2013). This workshop will explore how PBIS can provide a universal framework to align and integrate evidence based practices, such as Restorative Practice and a Trauma Informed Schools, to improve school safety and create a positive school climate. Participants will examine common features of Restorative Practice and Trauma Informed Schools within a PBIS continuum of support. Strategies for successful implementation will be explored at each Tier: the Universal, Targeted, and Intensive. The presenters will review a district vision for aligning and integrating related initiatives, such as RP and Trauma Informed Schools, within a PBIS multi-tiered framework to provide effective alternatives to suspension and expulsion and improve school safety and climate.

Presenters: Dr. Dori Barnett –Coordinator PBIS, and Dr. Arthur Cummins –Director Student Services

Decrease Student Suspensions and Expulsions While Increasing Student Engagement

Come learn how one Southern California school district has made significant reductions in home suspensions and expulsions over the last nine years. Through a change in philosophy and a variety of alternatives, not only has the number of suspensions and expulsions decreased, but the number of student behavior incidents has decreased as well. Developing a school-wide culture that values and respects all students is a priority in being able to increase student engagement in school. Creating a school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model is a part of this, but so too is the need for school leaders to be able to provide staff with the necessary alternative strategies to help prevent student choices that lead to discipline. In this session, we will dialogue about all of this and more and you will leave with some useful strategies to take back to your school and district.

Presenter: Steve Behar –Director, Child Welfare and Attendance –Lake Elsinore Unified School District

3:15 – 4:30 P.M. Thursday, July 20

Increase School Safety in Seconds: Featuring Officer Anderson

Proven strategies and technological advancements in school safety that have already saved student lives will be shared, including the latest mobile emergency 2-way mass communication system.

Master Officer Vlad Anderson will be presenting the latest safety and security practices including a live active shooter simulation utilizing the latest in technological advancements (iPhone, Android, Text, Email, and Web) to help reduce emergency response time by 50%+ and to secure your schools and keep students and staff safe during emergencies small or large

Presenters: Master Officer Vlad Anderson, Vic A. Merjanian ,Esq., and Serene Nasser

Overview of Prop 64

Presenter: Falcetti (Colorado)

Community Policing to Create Safer Schools

Digital communication and social media are a permanent fixture and influence in our students’ world. This presentation will explore opportunities for partnerships between school resource officers, law enforcement agents and educators to teach students responsible use of social media and digital communication. Using case studies, the presenters will show how the schools activities program can be the vehicle used to not only present this important content to students, but also create a trust between the student body and law enforcement to positively change the culture from reactive to proactive. The user-friendly presentation shows an effective approach in teaching responsible use of social media to students, parents and the community and includes a student produced “PSA” showing the power of “Pause Before you Post”.

Presenter: Mitch Brouillette –School Resource Officer –Brentwood PD/Heritage High School and Jessica Bunchier -Activity Director/PLUS Advisor – Heritage High School

Understanding Root Causes to Gang Members & Integrating Restorative Practices Interventions

This workshop will provide valuable insight for service providers to better understand root causes that contribute to gang membership. Participants will gain tools and strategies to implementing Restorative Practices while working with students and families impacted by gangs, incarceration and violence. Focus will center on healing, restoration and use of the arts to build community and relationships in the classroom and Institutions.

Presenters: Steven Kim, MSW –Co-Founder, Project Kinship and Mary Vu –LCSW, Co-Founder, Project Kinship

Safe Schools: Utilizing Youth Development Strategies to address racism, gangs, violence and bullying.

Presenter: John Vandenburgh Title

Safeguarding Our Future Through Policing Partnerships

The Stockton Unified School District Police Department’s mission is to provide a safe educational environment for a community of 44,000 students, faculty and staff at more than 60 schools. This session will highlight the Department’s successful collaborative efforts in partnering with District administrators and teachers to cultivate a safe school climate. Members of the Department will discuss the effectiveness of student conflict mediation and community outreach as alternatives to enforcement, as well as key crime prevention and public service educational programs, including the Stockton Public Safety Academy and Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program.

Presenters: Anne Brewer – Interim Police Chief –Stockton Unified School District Police Department, Sergeant Rob Young –Stockton Unified School District Police Department, Corporal Roberto Marquez –Stockton Unified School District Police Department, Officer Ben Torres –Stockton Unified School District Police Department, Officer Emily Chen – Stockton Unified School District Police Department

Lessons Learned by VVUHSD from Campus Security and Assistants

In this session the S.W.O.T (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the VVUHSD will be provided in order to detail all of the aspects that should be considered to increase the safety and security of school campuses nation wide. Also those who attend this session will be given an opportunity to ask questions that pertain to their campuses or districts as safety and security concerns differ from community to community.

Presenter: Allan Poohar –Campus Security Officer –Victor Valley Union High School District

FOCUS (Focus on Children under Stress)

Presenters: George Papadopoulos and Maribel Garcia –CDE

8:30 – 9:45 A.M. Friday, July 21

Popular Cultures& the Noise it Makes

Presenter: Paul Lebaron

Creating a Safe Climate that Promotes Student Achievement

School safety is linked to what educators do on a practical level every single day to create a safe, positive school environment where students can actively engage in learning. Sanger Unified School Districts followed its motto, “Dream Big, Work Hard, and Believe!” to put in place programs and procedures promoting safety and regular attendance to develop an atmosphere where student achievement prevails. Their innovative approach fosters an environment for learning while at the same time meeting LCAP requirements for determining school effectiveness and addressing measures for climate mandated by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Presenters: Dr. Dennis Wiechmann and Jerry Eooden

Safe Schools Planning and Hate, Bullying and Harassment

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently passed a motion instructing various County departments to ensure the safety of its people amidst recent reported hate crimes. LACOE has collaborated with its own Divisions of Curriculum and Instructional Services and Communications, and the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission to provide a resource document that supports school districts in strengthening their safe schools plans, and focuses on the following areas: Data and Reports and Training on Hate Crimes and Incidents, Immigration Issues, Current Practices, Trainings and Resources including Civil Dialogue, Student Protests, and Teacher Lesson Plans, and Student and Parent Programs and Mental Health Strategies to address Anxiety, Harassment and Bullying. This presentation will introduce participants to current data on the topics of Hate, Harassment and Bullying and provide a review of supportive LACOE and other resources .

Presenter: Victor Thompson –Director, Student Support Services

Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management for Schools

Attendees will learn how to conduct a risk assessment, and learn how to create an Emergency Operations Plan. They will also learn every step of Crisis Management: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. They will be better prepared to handle any crisis based on the All Hazard approach. Whether a natural disaster strikes, or there is an Active Shooter on campus, school personnel will be instructed in the proper planning and execution of the Emergency Operations Plan. I have given this course over several years to all levels of school safety conferences ranging from State and local to federal agencies.

Presenter: Eric Hall –Safety Director – Safety Director –Children’s Home of Cincinnati

Stop the Silent Epidemic of Pass Out Games

Pass-Out Activities (aka The Choking Game) is an equal-opportunity danger with no racial, cultural, religious or socio-economic boundaries, yet a majority of parents and many professionals are unaware of its existence.

An astounding surge of “how to play” videos on YouTube alone gives kids the impression that this activity is harmless fun without any information regarding the potential for injury or death. In 2015, University of Wisconsin researchers studied 419 videos which – among other attributes examined – were viewed an aggregated 22 million times. An earlier CDC study reported that “92.9% of parents … were not aware of the choking game until the death of their child.” The CDC recommended that “Parents, educators, and health-care providers should learn about the choking game and be able to recognize … warning signs.”

This workshop demonstrates the innovative prevention solution developed by Erik’s Cause to address this with students while also empowering them to say “no” using effective strategies. Attendees can expect to learn about: (1) the scope of the problem; (2) critical relevance for schools; (3) potential warning signs; (4) strategies to address this issue in their schools, and (5) strategies for parents discuss this with children.

Presenter: Judy Rogg –Director and Co-Founder –Erik’s Cause