1. School Safety Review for Beginning Teachers
Kentucky Center for School Safety
Denny R. Vincent, School Safety Consultant

2. MILITARY POLICE OFFICER
TEACHER
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
PRINCIPAL
NASSP PRESIDENT
PERSONNEL DIRECTOR
ACTING SUPERINTENDENT
SCHOOL SAFETY CONSULTANT

3. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

4. ONCE PHYSICAL NEEDS ARE RELATIVELY SATISFIED, THE INDIVIDUAL’S SAFETY NEEDS TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER OTHER NEEDS.
STUDENTS DO NOT LEARN EFFECTIVELY IF THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE!

5. “I’ve come to the frightening. conclusion that I am the deciding
“I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the deciding element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a person’s life miserable or joyous.

6. I can be a tool of torture, or an. instrument of inspiration. I can
I can be a tool of torture, or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a person humanized or de-humanized.”
Haim Ginott

7. Most important factor in school safety
Truly care for the kids!
They don’t care how much you know…they want to know how much you care.
Be their Teacher and not their buddy.
You will be their protector

8. TRUSTED ADULT Positive relationships between advocate they can talk to
students and adults – an adult
advocate they can talk to
This is the number one way to stop tragedies, such as school shootings, from happening

9. Basic Standards Mutual Respect-treat each student with dignity
Show Caring
Control your classroom
Be consistent and fair and don’t lose your “cool”
Keep your room orderly, clean and free of clutter
Students should be able to move about your room unimpaired
Require mutual respect among all students. You’re their role model!

10. Basic Standards Keep your classroom door locked during instruction
Lessons learned at Sandy Hook
Be aware of possible pushback
Keep your classroom key on your person at all times
Keep your classroom door locked when you’re not there
Keep your personal belongings locked up

11. KEEP ALL EXTERNAL DOORS LOCKED
SECURITY VESTIBULE
BUZZER SYSTEM WITH CAMERA AND AUDIO
SCRIPT FOR RECEPTIONIST
ALARMS ON DOORS NOT USED FOR REGULAR ENTRY/EGRESS

12. Basic Standards: School Rule Enforcement
If the school has an Instructional Discipline program in place, get trained in it and follow it to the letter
Be familiar with the School District’s Code of Conduct
Be familiar with your school’s code of conduct…which can be more detailed and more strict than the District’s code.
Inconsistency of rule enforcement is one of the biggest problems we observe throughout the state…which can create unsafe situations.

13. Supervision KRS 161:180
Nothing deters misbehavior any better in a school than having an adult present and actively supervising students.
Principals are required by law to establish a supervision plan that encompasses the entire school day…from arrival thru dismissal.
1. Arrival-walkers, buses and cars
2. Dismissal-walkers, buses and cars
3. Hallways– active vs passive supervision
4. Classrooms
5. Playground (“the bench”)
6. Lunch duty

14. Supervision (continued)
7. Restroom duty—gender issues 8. Game duty 9. Access control—visitor policy 10. General duties assigned by the principal

15. ACTIVE SUPERVISION
THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR MAKING SCHOOL SAFE IS THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF A RESPONSIBLE ADULT IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY

16. Points to remember about Supervision responsibilities
Develop active supervision practices rather than passive supervision.
Remember when on supervision: “Every student in the school is your student” (not just those assigned to your classroom)
“See something, Hear something--Say something”
Develop Situational Awareness
Liability for willful negligence of duty

17. Emergency Operations Plan
Know and be familiar with the school’s EOP.
You should be taught this by your principal. (side comment)
Many emergencies occur outside of class time
Never talk to the news media following an emergency…direct all media to the principal.
Always fill out an accident report form when something happens under your supervision. (keep a copy for yourself)
Keep 4X4 sterile gauzes in your desk drawer and in your Go Kit. (bleed outs)
Know your school’s severe weather safe zones
Take first aid training if offered

18. Emergency Responses
Train your students to remain quiet during all drills and/or evacuations.
Keep accurate attendance during all drills and evacuations.
Four major Emergency Responses to be practiced by all schools:
1. Fire, 2. Lockdown, 3. Earthquake and 4. Severe Weather (all drills must be conducted during the first 30 days of school)
Reverse evacuation…not required but a good idea to practice.
Shelter-in-place…not required but…..

19. PHOTO ID’S FOR STAFF ALLOWS FIRST RESPONDERS TO KNOW WHO WORKS THERE
ALLOWS VISITORS AND STUDENTS TO KNOW WHO’S IN CHARGE

20. VISITOR ID BADGES STAFF KNOWS WHO HAS CHECKED IN
SIGN-IN IS RECORD OF WHO WAS IN BUILDING
FIRST RESPONDERS CAN QUICKLY IDENTIFY VISITORS
ENSURE THAT VISITORS SIGN OUT (CAR KEYS)
The level of bullying usually increases if the bullying is not addressed by adults.

21. Fire Drills Required by NFPA Life Safety Code:
Two fire drills during the first 30 days of school
Then one per month (weather permitting)
Each classroom should have an evacuation route map with primary and alternative routes indicated. (comment)
Take your class roster with you and maintain accurate accounting of your students. (be aware of the “pull-out.”)
Take your Go Kit with you…if you have one.

22. Basic Go Kit Clipboard with lists of: All classroom students
Students with special needs and description of needs (i.e. medical issues, prescription medicines, dietary needs), marked confidential
Classroom personnel
School emergency procedures
Whistle
Hat or vest for teacher identification
First-aid kit with instructions
Pens and paper
Possible Red and Green Cards
There are more things that can be added if necessary

23. Lockdown Drill Two Lockdown drills per year
Always practice the entire drill…don’t short cut it.
Be familiar with the school’s lockdown procedure.
You should be teaching with your door already locked.
Run, Hide, Fight model
ALICE model**
To date…no one has entered a locked classroom door and harmed anyone.
If the school is placed in a lockdown mode due to an actual shooter, do not open your door until some official opens the door for you.

24. Earthquake Drill Two Earthquake drills per year Drop, cover and hold
Be careful when leaving a building following a quake:
Electrical wiring hanging
Gas lines could be leaking
Water and electrical lines
Hanging debris
Take your Go Kit when leaving the area.

25. Severe Weather Two severe weather drills per year
Know your evacuation plan
Know the different severe weather safe zones in your building
Keep your Go Kit handy.
Keep students away from glass and away from external doors.

26. Reverse Evacuation
Bringing students BACK into the building due to a pending danger.
Depending on the threat, go to the appropriate safe zone: classroom unless directed otherwise.

27. SHELTER IN PLACE Turn off HVAC system Seal room
Stay in room until informed that all is safe

28. Suicide prevention
KRS (3) (b) mandates 2 hours of suicide prevention training for all middle and high school staff members…annually.
KRS 156:095 (6) (b) mandates all middle and high schools teachers are to disseminate suicide prevention literature to their students at the beginning of the school year. (Please take this seriously…I’ll explain.)

29. Other things to be aware of…
Child abuse…when in doubt report (protect yourselves…make three reports: Children services, principal and SRO…document.)
S.T.O.P. Online tip line
Dating Abuse
Bullying
Dangerous behaviors
Human Trafficking
Alcohol/Drug abuse
Parent civility policies

30. No open containers
Internet safety
2 minute rule

31. Review EOP flip chart
This is a good time for any questions you may have.

32. For more information, contact:
Thank You for your Time!
For more information, contact:
Denny R. Vincent Kentucky Center for School Safety
Visit us on the web:

33. Contact information
Kentucky Center for School Safety Jon Akers, Executive Director 111 Stratton Building 521 Lancaster Ave Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, Kentucky