Get to know the REMS TA Center by listening to our introductory episode, during which we chat about how we aim to serve K-12 and higher ed partners, as well as their community partners, with prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.

Tune in for an informative five-part discussion on state school safety models and the ways that various models support school safety needs and goals at the state and local levels. In Part 1, the REMS TA Center describes the structure of three different models and hears from special guests at the New York State Education Department and the New York State Center for School Safety on the functions and benefits of their collaboration for providing technical assistance and training to K-12 schools and school districts. Part 2 focuses on the value of state-level partnerships and features guests from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Oklahoma City Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation discussing how their partnership has strengthened behavioral threat assessment processes throughout the state. Part 3 focuses on four examples of state-level partnerships that exist within the state of Pennsylvania and discusses the different roles they play in supporting school safety and features Nicholas Slotterback, a Health and Physical Education Advisor within the Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Curriculum and Assessment, Division of Instructional Quality. The conversation highlights how these partnerships have impacted local education agencies (LEAs). In Part 4 we explore how state-level partnerships impact LEAs and discuss best practices for developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships at the state level. We also hear from special guests at the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Center for School Safety about their framework for collaboration and the benefits their partnerships provide to LEAs throughout Maryland. Part 5 features special guests from the Maine School Safety Center within the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Emergency Management Agency discussing the value and impacts of their partnership and ongoing collaboration on emergency management initiatives, training, communication, and joint decision-making.

Tune in to explore the important topic of cyber safety in the school setting. In Part 1, the REMS TA Center explores responsible use policies, digital citizenship programs, and resources. Part 2 focuses on the connection between cyber safety and cybersecurity, lists examples of cyber threats, and provides strategies for educational agencies to build their preparedness capacity.

Tune in for an informative two-part discussion on the integration of Opioid Overdose Prevention Annexes into school emergency operations plans. In Part 1, the REMS TA Center describes school-based prevention and intervention methods and provides an overview of the presence of opioids in schools. Part 2 provides an overview of opioid use and abuse and offers key terms and definitions.

Tune in for an informative discussion on the important role of social-emotional learning in school safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness. The REMS TA Center focuses on integrating a trauma-informed approach into planning and explores related concepts, including adverse childhood experiences and secondary trauma, which may impact students, educators, administrators, and other school personnel.

Tune in for an informative two-part discussion on planning for and supporting students who may be facing homelessness or displacement. In Part 1, the REMS TA Center delves into continuity of operations (COOP) planning for homeless and displaced students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Part 2 explores family and student engagement and how to address homelessness through proper action and planning laid out in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Tune in for an engaging discussion on recovery in the context of emergency management and emergency operations plan development. The REMS TA Center explores how schools and institutions of higher education can create comprehensive recovery plans that address the four components of recovery and shares examples of how state-level partnerships can strengthen recovery efforts.

Tune in as we discuss family reunification in the context of school safety and emergency management. The REMS TA Center outlines the Family Reunification activities conducted before, during, and after an emergency event, and the importance of creating a Family Reunification Annex.

Tune in for a chat with Lincoln County School District in Oregon on strategies for planning for emergency evacuation and considerations for developing an Evacuation Annex as a part of the school emergency operations plan.

Tune in to an informative two-part discussion on site assessments and the ways that two states are approaching this important work. In Part 1, the REMS TA Center chats with Guy Bliesner of the Idaho School Safety and Security Program on strategies they use within the state of Idaho to assess the safety, security, accessibility, and emergency preparedness of school buildings and grounds. In Part 2, the REMS TA Center chats with Dr. Cheryl May, Director of the Arkansas Center for School Safety at the Criminal Justice Institute; Dr. Jeff Collum, Superintendent of Conway Public Schools; and Jason Black, Deputy Superintendent of Conway Public Schools, on conducting site assessments using the SITE ASSESS mobile application.

Tune in as we interview the Ohio School Safety Center within the Ohio Department of Public Safety on how they partner with the Ohio Department of Education and local school districts to manage their tip line and use it to enhance emergency preparedness planning.

Tune in as the REMS TA Center leads an informative conversation with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Safe and Healthy Schools Coordinator on the use and purpose of after-action reviews and reports as prevention tools that can help improve emergency operations plans. This discussion offers insights on challenges that state education agencies face in working with schools and school districts in developing action reports; the level of engagement key partners, such as community stakeholders and families, have in report development; and tips and recommendations about the benefits of using after-action reviews and reports following actual emergency incidents and exercises when working to improve school emergency operations plans.

Tune in for an educational discussion on preventing the aiding and abetting of adult sexual misconduct (ASM) in K-12 schools and school districts. The REMS TA Center shares research on the issue of ASM and the aiding and abetting of ASM and, with insight from Colleen O’Neil, Ed.D., the Associate Commissioner of Educator Talent at the Colorado Department of Education, offers concrete strategies for preventing the aiding and abetting of ASM.

Tune in for an informative three-part conversation on the important topic of emergency response structures that are used within institutions of higher education. In Part 1, the REMS TA Center speaks with Ian Cyr, Deputy Chief at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who provides background information on the Incident Command System (ICS), its purpose, and how his institution adopts the Emergency Support Functions structure. Part 2 of this series includes a discussion of ICS implementation strategies and lessons learned by Ali Shah, Director of Emergency Management at San Jacinto College in Texas. In Part 3, Kevin Martin, Deputy Director of Emergency Management at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, discusses the Community Lifelines framework.

Tune in as the REMS TA Center leads an informative conversation with Steve Harris, the Special Project Advisor for the University of Georgia. Steve has over 28 years of K-12 and higher ed safety, security, and emergency management experience and has previously served as the Director of Emergency Preparedness and Insurance and Claims at the University of Georgia, the State School Safety Unit Manager with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security Agency, a K-12 security administrator, and a police officer. This discussion offers insight into the importance of various timeless school safety strategies for implementation to support enhancing the school emergency operations plan. In light of recent high turnover in the education and public safety professions, this episode serves as a helpful reminder of critical and timeless school safety, security, and emergency management strategies that are considered basic school safety and emergency planning foundations but may not be as well known for most educational and public safety practitioners.

Tune in to explore the important topic of cybersecurity risk management for K-12 schools and to learn how to improve your school’s cybersecurity posture. The REMS TA Center draws from current data and an interview with Dr. Timothy Tillman to understand the current landscape of K-12 school cyberattacks and best practices for improving K-12 cybersecurity posture.

In this episode of #REMSontheAir, the REMS TA Center hosts a conversation with Dr. Garry McGiboney on the topic of human error and school safety. Tune in as Dr. McGiboney explores the types and causes of human error in schools and provides suggestions and best practices to avoid human error incidents.