October 2009 Initiatives: Character, Achievement, Crisis Planning

Bergen Community College Faculty Association
Transforming a Campus: Leadership, Vigilance, Collaboration
October 14, 2009

The Bergen Community College Faculty Association, in partnership with the New Jersey Education Association held a workshop dinner for 300 faculty and staff of the college on Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

As the keynote speaker for the event, I presented Transforming a Campus: Leadership, Vigilance, Collaboration. The presentation highlighted an honest review of contemporary concerns of violence and crisis situations at American campuses. It also emphasized the importance of sound crisis preparedness and threat assessment principles.

The U.S. Department of Education document titled Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities as well as the U.S. Secret Service document Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates were punctuated throughout the presentation.

An honest overview of the Virginia Tech Tragedy was also made since it represents unique insights on crisis management and threat assessment deficiencies.

Morris County Council of Education Associations
Creating a Culture of Character and Achievement
October 15, 2009

On Thursday, October 15, 2009, the Morris County Council of Education Associations held a dinner workshop at Zeris Inn in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. As the invited speaker for the event, I presented a program titled: Creating a Culture of Character and Achievement.

The program included interaction from educators from schools throughout Morris County and highlighted practical programs that have contributed to a culture of character and achievement in their schools and districts.

National Conference on Ethics in America at West Point
Senior Leader
October 21, 2009

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009 I had the privilege to return for my third consecutive year to the National Conference on Ethics in America at the United States Military Academy to serve as a Senior Leader.  The theme for this year's conference was Sharing with Integrity. 

The goal of the conference for college delegates from throughout the nation is threefold:

1. FOSTER a national conscience and awareness of ethical behavior in the undergraduate community.
2. ENHANCE collegiate code of ethics and honor systems through the diversity of experiences and value systems of students from colleges and universities.
3. ENDOW students with opportunities to discuss issues of character and integrity with athletes, business and government officials and leaders of character across varying fields of enterprise in order to take-away invaluable lessons and experiences.

Bergen County Education Association
Creating a Culture of Character and Achievement
October 21, 2009

In the evening, I traveled to Teaneck, New Jersey to deliver a keynote titled Creating a Culture of Character and Achievement to over 200 educators of the Bergen County Education Association.  This event was a follow up to my previous keynote for their association titled Transforming Our Schools: The Heart and Brick of School Security.