American School Violence: Warning Signs, Violence Prevention, Crisis Planning

School violence prevention initiatives continued today with the release of my newest article titled American School Violence: Warning Signs, Violence Prevention, Crisis Planning. The article was released in The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine March 2014 edition and included a chronology of school violence incidents with insights from numerous government documents that shed light on warning signs, threat assessment and crisis planning.

This work began sixteen years ago after the Columbine tragedy in April, 1999 when I began traveling the country and speaking at conferences and seminars. It has evolved to include my newest book titled Listen To Their Cries: Calling the Nation to Renewal from Columbine to Virginia Tech and articles, presentations, district professional development events, Virginia Tech Crisis of Leadership Report and blogs including:

Transforming New Jersey Schools: Security, Character, Academics

On Tuesday, September 4, 2013 I returned to Southern New Jersey to present my signature presentation titled Transforming Our Schools: The Heart and Brick of School Security. Over 400 teachers, administrators and professional support staff from the Cinnaminson Township Public Schools attended as a required security and professional development initiative. The event was the kickoff for the 2013-2014 school year and was held at Cinnaminson High School in Burlington County.

My 90 minute keynote addressed the contemporary issues of violence, corruption, substance abuse, gangs, bullying and the repressive system of education. It offered solutions of a culture of preparedness, community connections, crisis management, character education, academic motivation and the preventive system of education that inspires with the language of the heart.

Cinnaminson Township Public Schools Testimonial
"Thank you for your meaningful presentation to the Cinnaminson School District staff on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 on the topic of Transforming Our Schools: The Heart and Brick of School Security. Our administrators, teachers and support staff were most receptive to your message of promoting good character in order to change the culture of violence in our schools and in society."
Assistant Superintendent

This was a follow up to my previous keynote for a collaboration of 7 Southern New Jersey prosecutors with schools and law enforcement agencies from 7 southern New Jersey counties:

Over 300 Attend Southern New Jersey Prosecutors School Security Conference (August 13, 2010)

A Note from the Prosecutors

Welcome to the 4th Annual School Security Conference. The goal of the conference is to educate law enforcement and school officials alike on the challenges of safeguarding our students and school personnel. School security issues are common to us all. We are all dealing with providing important public service with limited financial resources.

Against this backdrop, it is imperative for law enforcement and school districts to coordinate our efforts to deal effectively with the challenges facing us all. It is our firm belief that working together, we will keep our schools safe.

Respectfully,

Theodore F. L. Housel — Atlantic County Prosecutor
Robert D. Bernardi — Burlington County Prosecutor
Warren W. Faulk — Camden County Prosecutor
Robert L. Taylor — Cape May Prosecutor
Jennifer Webb — McRae-Cumberland County Prosecutor
Sean F. Dalton — Gloucester County Prosecutor
John T. Lenahan — Salem County Prosecutor

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These prosecutors of southern New Jersey held their conference on August 12, 2010 at Washington Township High School in Sewell, New Jersey with over 300 law enforcement, school and community officials attending. The speakers included:

• Sean F. Dalton—Gloucester County Prosecutor
  
• Jennifer Webb-McRae—Cumberland County Prosecutor
  
• Michael Pohle—Father of Michael Pohle, Jr., a student killed at Virginia Tech
  
• Vincent J. Bove—Leadership and Security Educator
  
• Paula T. Dow—Attorney General of the State of New Jersey
  
• Richard Norcross—Gang Awareness Authority

As a featured speaker, I was privileged to deliver a 60 minute presentation titled Transforming Our Schools: Reawakening the Heart of the Nation. The presentation integrated elements of school security, character education, academic achievement and community collaboration so vital to our schools and to the future of our nation. The metaphor of a head on collision with the culture of violence and crisis of character was utilized as well as critical New Jersey compliance issues. These included the Commissioner of Education School Administrator Procedures of Responding to Critical Incidents and Model School Security Policies:

• Active Shooter Response Procedures
  
• Bomb Threat Response Procedures
  
• Evacuation Procedures
  
• School Lockdown Procedures
  
• Public Information Procedures

The School Security Drill Guide for the State of New Jersey was also discussed since beginning November 1, 2010 all New Jersey schools must comply with various security drills aside from fire drills.

Critical documents from the U.S. Department of Education, Secret Service and FBI on crisis planning, early warning signs, safeguarding our students, threat assessments, character education and violence prevention were also addressed. Attendees were encouraged to work collaboratively and to implement programs through professional development, security vulnerability assessments and initiatives that encompass all elements of the community.

The presentation was complimented with copies of my newest book Listen To Their Cries which was sponsored for all attendees through the generosity of the prosecutors as facilitated by the leadership of Prosecutor Dalton. As with all of my presentations, it concluded with a tribute to the American Military.

The prosecutors are to be commended for their practical response to school security through this conference. It is an event highly recommended and mission critical to our nation and will hopefully be imitated through the leadership of prosecutors throughout the nation.

READ MORE

Listen To Their Cries	Click here to visit site
New Jersey Department of Education School Security	Click here to visit site
A UNIFORM STATE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN EDUCATION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS	Click here to visit site
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FAQs	Click here to visit site
Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools – August 1998	Click here to visit site
Safeguarding Our Children: An Action Guide – April 2000	Click here to visit site
Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and Creating Safe School Climates	Click here to visit site
THE FINAL REPORT AND FINDINGS OF THE SAFE SCHOOL INITIATIVE: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SCHOOL ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES – May 2002	Click here to visit site
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON CRISIS PLANNING: A GUIDE FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES – May 2003	Click here to visit site
Vincent Bove School Violence Blogs	Click here to visit site