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About

"Safer Schools Together"

The Annual PREPARE conference brings together Maryland public, nonpublic, and private school personnel, law enforcement officials, behavioral health practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders interested in school safety. Participants come together for two days to discuss and share best practices, strategies, and innovations for enhancing school safety and security. Through networking opportunities, keynote speeches, and workshops conducted by local and national experts, participants expand their ability to provide safe school communities by acquiring new knowledge and tools.

Pre-conference Events



Sextortion of Minors -
Sexually and  Financially Motivated: June 11th

This webinar will bring awareness to current trends encountered by youth on the Internet, with a focus on social media, along with recommendations on how to safeguard children and families.

Presented By: FBI Baltimore - Meaghan Gneiting, Tactical Specialist & Leslie Adamczyk, Special Agent

Note - You must register for this pre-conference webinar to receive the Zoom link. Registration for this event is separate from registration for the conference.


New Trends in Substance Use: July 11th, 1 pm

Drug use continues to be a significant problem plaguing society today. The majority of teens, college students, and young adults using drugs are not drug addicts; they are simply experimenting. Whether experimentation starts with the “challenges” promoted online, vaping, trying pot, or popping pills, a few bad decisions can lead down a path with many consequences. This problem is independent of gender, age, race, culture, and socio-economic group and occurs equally in urban and rural areas.


Presented by:
Lynn Reimer, President of ACT on Drugs, Inc.

Note - You must register for this pre-conference webinar to receive the Zoom link. Registration for this event is undefinedseparate from registration for the conference.

BTA workshop and talk: July 16th, 7 pm

Maryland schools continue to improve their behavior threat assessment processes, procedures, and practices, leading the way nationally. Opportunities to clarify and refine the work happening in Maryland schools have occurred, and MCSS staff will use this time to share updated behavior threat assessment information and resources, including threat management practices.
MCSS staff will be followed by two local school officials sharing the story of an averted attack from their system. They will take audience members through the event, from how they received the tip, the moment decisions were made to investigate the tip and protect others, to the culmination of determining how to move forward with the student after the event. These leaders will share what went well and what gaps became apparent as a result of the event so that others can learn.

Art Showcase


 

Competition 'Safe Spaces' Winners! 

Elementary School Category: 

1st Prize: Jessie Jebaraj- Cedarmere Elementary - Baltimore County

2nd Prize: Mya Mathis - Pinewood Elementary Baltimore County

3rd Prize: Victoria  Michel - Crofton Elementary School Anne Arundel County

 

Middle School Category:

1st Prize: Harley Marie Graves Choices - Wicomico County

2nd Prize: Layla Bowers Wiley H. Bates Middle School - Anne Arundel County

3rd Prize: Joshita Mylavarapu Folly Quarter Middle School - Howard County

 

High School Category:

1st Prize: Adalyn Bunuan Crofton High School Anne Arundel County

2nd Prize: Safia Puthawala River Hill High School - Howard County

3rd Prize: Liam Dugan Digges Gilman - School Baltimore City


The School Safety Student Art Showcase aims to engage students in a creative and reflective process on the theme of school safety. This event is a platform for students to creatively explore the theme of school safety, expressing their thoughts, experiences, and aspirations through various art forms. Through this showcase, MCSS aims to foster dialogue among educators, parents, and the community about the crucial topic of school safety. By listening to students' voices and perspectives, we advocate for mental health support, anti-bullying efforts, emergency preparedness, and promoting a respectful and inclusive school environment. Join us in celebrating the power of art to inspire change and create safer, more positive schools for all, aligning with the broader goals of school safety initiatives.

FAQ

Who should​ attend?​

Education Administrators, Teachers, School Psychologists/Guidance Counselors, School Security Employees, School Resource Officers (SROs), Law Enforcement, Local/State Emergency Managers, Fusion Center Analysts, Crisis Intervention Units, Counselors & Mental Health Specialists, School Social Workers, School Safety Professionals, and other school safety stakeholders.

How many people from our organization should attend the conference?

We suggest that at least two people from an organization attend in order to maximize your experience and have the ability to attend multiple breakout sessions. 

Is the conference open to the general public? 

Yes. However, priority registration is given to State partners and educational staff that interact with our schools.  Therefore, you may be waitlisted to ensure everyone is accommodated. 

Are vendors permitted to attend or exhibit at the conference?

No. The Maryland Center for School Safety is a State Agency, not an association.  Therefore, we do not permit vendors to exhibit or attend our conference. Registration is monitored, and any registrations identified as vendors will be canceled. 

Will there be pre-conference events leading up to the conference?

Yes. Information on these events will be posted and shared when available. 

Where is the conference?

The conference will take place at the Turf Valley Resort in Howard County, Ellicott City, Maryland.

When is the conference?

The conference will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both Wednesday, July 17, and Thursday, July 18, 2024. MCSS will also offer a pre-conference event on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. 
 

Will there be an event on Tuesday evening?

Yes. There will be a BTA Workshop offered on the evening of Tuesday, July 16, 2024. This event will have a separate registration from the conference.

Is there a fee to attend?

No. There is no cost to attend our conference.

Will meals be provided?

Yes. Lunch will be provided daily for conference attendees and a Continental breakfast will be provided on the last day of the conference.

Will hotel rooms be provided?

Unfortunately, MCSS is only able to provide hotel rooms to conference presenters; however, attendees can book their own room(s) at Turf Valley Resort by clicking here or calling 410.465.1500 or 888.833.8873. 

Will Continuing Education Credits be offered to those attending the conference?

Yes, PREPARE 2024 has been approved for MPCTC In-Service hours and NASP Continuing Professional Development hours. Additionally, it can be used for Professional Development Points if your supervisor/organization approves.

Is there a capacity limit for the conference? 

Yes, the conference is limited to 500 people. Once registration has reached its limit, all additional requests will be waitlisted.

Is there a deadline to register for the conference? 

Yes, early registration will be available from February 15, 2024, through March 31, 2024, and regular registration will close on Friday, June 28, 2024.  

How do I register to attend the conference? 

You can register through our website or by clicking here. Registration will also be available through the conference app once it is available. 

How do I submit a proposal to present at your conference? 

The call for speakers for the 2024 conference closed on Friday, February 2, 2024. However, you can sign up for notifications from MCSS to be notified when the 2025 session opens by clicking here

Agenda
16
Early Check-In / Registration
Start
4:00 PM
End
7:00 PM
BTA Workshop Part I: Enhancing the Effectiveness of Your BTA Team
Start
5:30 PM
End
7:00 PM
Drew Turner
Kimberly Buckheit
BTA Workshop Part II: Averted School Attacks: Lessons Learned by Locals
Start
7:00 PM
End
8:00 PM
Tim Morrow
17
Welcome
Start
8:00 AM
End
8:30 AM
Cyberbullying and Social Media Misuse: Best Practices in Prevention and Response
Start
8:30 AM
End
10:00 AM
Sameer Hinduja
AM Break
Start
10:00 AM
End
10:30 AM
Social Media - A Live Look
Start
10:30 AM
End
11:30 AM
Scott Kilpatrick
Networking
Start
11:30 AM
End
12:00 PM
Lunch
Start
12:00 PM
End
1:00 PM
How the Legalization of Marijuana Has Negatively Impacted Our Youth
Start
1:05 PM
End
1:50 PM
Jordan Davidson
Preventing School Violence: Early Intervention Methods and Tools to Protect the K-12 Community
Start
1:05 PM
End
1:50 PM
Fitz McDonough
Paige Settles
The Rise of AI: Integrating AI Into Your Security Strategies
Start
1:05 PM
End
1:50 PM
Michael Meiser
Jason Stoddard
Leveraging School Cameras and No-Cost Software to Produce Training Triumphs.
Start
2:05 PM
End
2:50 PM
Doyle Batten
Monique H. Jackson
Social Media & Bullied Suicide - The Path to MD's Grace's Law and Social Media Reform
Start
2:05 PM
End
2:50 PM
Christine McComas
Working with the Teen Brain: 8 Strategies from Brain Research
Start
2:05 PM
End
2:50 PM
Michael Muempher
Jeff Bostic
PM Break
Start
2:50 PM
End
3:10 PM
A Trauma-Informed Approach: It Starts With YOU!
Start
3:15 PM
End
4:00 PM
Laura Clary
Scott Kilpatrick
Addressing Threats from Triage to Assessment to Management Utilizing the CCPS Threat Management System (TMS)
Start
3:15 PM
End
4:00 PM
Amy Jagoda
Karl Streaker
Restorative Circles in your Community to Empower Stakeholder Unity
Start
3:15 PM
End
4:00 PM
Nancy Schertzing
18
Continental Breakfast
Start
7:00 AM
End
8:00 AM
Welcome
Start
8:00 AM
End
8:30 AM
The Fight Against Sextortion
Start
8:30 AM
End
10:00 AM
Timothy Woods
Tamia Woods
Visit the Exhibit Partners and Art Showcase
Start
10:00 AM
End
10:30 AM
Popular Culture and the Noise it Creates- Communicating with Digital Natives
Start
10:30 AM
End
11:30 AM
Paul LeBaron
Networking
Start
11:30 AM
End
12:00 PM
Lunch
Start
12:00 PM
End
1:00 PM
Building Educator Resilience in the Face of Student Loss
Start
1:15 PM
End
2:00 PM
Candra Jackson
The HOPE Model: Considering the Positive for Healthier Outcomes - Part I
Start
1:15 PM
End
2:00 PM
Bernard Hennigan
Joe Harbert
Christina Alton
We Talk to our Kids about Drugs and Sex…but What about Gaming and Gambling?
Start
1:15 PM
End
2:00 PM
Kenny Crawford
Heather Eshleman
Danger Unmasked: Exploring the Dark Side of Artificial Intelligence Within Schools
Start
2:15 PM
End
3:00 PM
Brendan P. Gill
Kids Summer Camp
Start
2:15 PM
End
3:00 PM
Ashley Davis
James Beck
The HOPE Model: Considering the Positive for Healthier Outcomes - Part II
Start
2:15 PM
End
3:00 PM
Bernard Hennigan
Joe Harbert
Christina Alton
Closing Remarks, Raffle, Showcase Results
Start
3:15 PM
End
4:15 PM
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Speakers
Download app
Map
2700 Turf Valley Rd
Ellicott City
Agenda

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End

Speakers