Yavapai College and the National Center for the Prevention of Community Violence will host the Southwest Schools Safety Summit Nov. 5 and 6 at the college’s Prescott campus. The event will take place in Building 3, Room 119.
The summit is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday. Attendance costs $125, and registration is available at www.yc.edu/ji.
### Focus on prevention and behavior
Organizers say the program will examine behavior-based strategies, prevention frameworks and community factors connected to school safety and student well-being. The intended audience includes K-12 education leaders, teachers, school resource officers and other community members.
Yavapai College Justice Institute Program Director Jerald Monahan said the event will emphasize behavioral cues that school staff may notice before a situation escalates. He also pointed to the role of students’ home environments and the value of working with families to support children’s social and emotional development.
The summit’s prevention focus comes as schools around the country grapple with student behavior in classrooms. The National Center for the Prevention of Community Violence, which works with schools in 25 states and communities serving more than 22,000 students, reports that educators raise similar concerns even though schools differ.
Wendy Davison, owner of Rocky Mountain Consulting, said educators she has heard from are seeking ways to prevent behavior from reaching a crisis, rather than simply adding paperwork or relying on harsher discipline. She said conversations with teachers, principals, counselors, school resource officers and district leaders begin by listening to their experiences, what is working and what support they need.
Davison described a shift from focusing mainly on responses after behavior has escalated to considering what a student’s behavior may indicate and what can be done earlier. In her view, that approach can affect how adults engage with students and the broader culture of a school, as well as its safety.
### Scheduled speakers
The announced speakers are Bobby Kipper, founder and executive director of the National Center for the Prevention of Community Violence; Dr. John Hodge, chief inspirational officer for An Achievable Dream Urban Learning Leadership Center; and Dr. Kenneth Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services.
Also scheduled to speak are Davison and Monahan. The program brings together perspectives from school safety, education leadership, consulting and the Yavapai College Justice Institute.
Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers across Yavapai County. The college offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, six baccalaureate degrees, and student and community services, along with cultural events and activities.
People interested in attending can find registration information at www.yc.edu/ji. The summit’s published schedule gives participants a full day of sessions on Thursday, followed by a shorter program Friday.