The roles of school district superintendents have greatly expanded over the past two decades to now include school safety, security, crisis management, emergency management, and more. K-12 district leaders must be proactive and well-versed in these matters because they will be held accountable by parents and the community if or when something goes wrong.
A lack of superintendent focus and support could result in the adoption of ineffective safety and security policies and procedures, the installation of the wrong security equipment, poorly maintained infrastructure, non-existent emergency planning and more. The consequences could range from a minor incident to a major unmitigated disaster.
The experts interviewed in this webcast – all of whom have responded to major school security events — will cover the roles and oversight responsibilities of school district superintendents before, during, and after a critical incident, as well as the questions they should ask when addressing school safety and security in general. The presentation will also cover how district safety directors, police chiefs, and other security executives can effectively work with their school superintendents, and vice versa. The role of vendors and mission partners will also be addressed.
Attendees will learn:
- The basics roles of superintendents in school safety oversight
- The importance of school safety committees, who should have a seat at the table, and how to develop key performance indicators
- How to vet vendor-provided subject matter experts and navigate the RFP process to serve district goals
- How superintendents can promote and support the different yet interconnected roles of school safety and quality education.
Speakers:
Bryan Krause, Senior National School Safety Strategist for CDW Education
Bryan Krause
Bryan Krause is an education visionary who has long understood the relationship between strong school safety programs and high-quality education. As the former principal of a high school that suffered a school shooting, he understands the life changing impact that happens when violence comes to school. A former teacher, coach, and district administrator, Bryan’s passion for K-12 education always shines through. He provides hope to those who have experienced heartbreak by helping students, staff, and leaders through the most difficult of times.
Bryan has responded to six school shootings in his career, provided the crisis mental health leadership following a student suicide by fire on campus, and led the mental health response for elementary students and staff following the kidnapping and homicide of a student. He has responded to hundreds of small and large crises that require mental health support, and each time, he does it with grace and kindness that allows students and educators the best opportunity for recovery.
John McDonald, COO, Council for School Safety Leadership
John McDonald
John McDonald co-founded The Council for School Safety Leadership (CSSL) and serves as the organization’s chief operating officer. CSSL provides crisis management services for executive leaders. Within CSSL’s first two months, John assembled a network of national experts and hit the ground running by supporting executive school district leaders after a school shooting in St. Louis, which was the 7th school shooting John has responded to or provided support to during the past 14 years. Previously he was responsible for protecting 86,000 students and 14,000 employees as executive director of school safety for Jeffco Public Schools in Colorado.
John’s work protecting kids has been featured on the front page of the Washington Post and in the Showtime documentary “Active Shooter: America Under Fire,” as well as in the FBI documentaries “Echoes of Columbine” and “In the Aftermath.” John is recognized internationally as the architect of the post-Columbine tragedy safety, security, and emergency management plan, now considered a gold standard in the industry.
Pat Sandos, President, Sandos and Associates Consulting & Retired Superintendent at Sheridan Public Schools
Pat Sandos
Pat Sandos is a dedicated educational leader and Denver native. As the first Hispanic superintendent in the Sheridan School District, he has significantly impacted the education landscape in Colorado. Sandos has devoted his entire career to serving the Denver area and its suburbs as a teacher, school administrator, and superintendent.
With over 35 years of experience, he is one of the few administrators who possesses extensive knowledge across elementary, middle, and high school levels, offering him a unique perspective on education and school safety.
Pat’s strong leadership during a school shooting at Sheridan underscored his commitment to safety and stability, successfully fostering a sense of safety and community within the district. He is a recognized leader in school safety, sharing his insights nationwide and collaborating with experts to improve crisis response.
