The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) hosted its second annual Safe Schools Summit on Thursday, Oct. 19, connecting educators from all 14 school districts within the county, law enforcement officers, and safety professionals in a daylong gathering focused on enhancing safe learning environments.
“School safety is a shared responsibility,” said San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Troy Brown. “The Safe Schools Summit brings together educators, school staff, and law enforcement to learn from each other, share best practices, and ultimately improve safety countywide.”
The summit featured a wide range of learning sessions, including a panel discussion for students to share the perspective from their high schools. Other sessions covered topics such as communication and de-escalation tools and the behavioral threat assessment and management process.
Attendees also heard from Rob Young, a survivor of the 1989 Cleveland Elementary School shooting who grew up to become a law enforcement officer. He shared his story in an instructional session on what actions to take in an emergency situation.
The keynote speaker was Julie Kurtz, founder of the Center for Optimal Brain Integration. Kurtz is an author and expert on trauma-responsive and resilience-building strategies. During her keynote, she provided attendees with regulation techniques they can proactively practice themselves and with students to prepare for emotional emergencies.
The Safe Schools Summit is an annual event first hosted by the SJCOE in November 2022.