Leading in Crisis: When An Active Shooter Enters Your School

Format

Individual Presentation

Location

Vernon

Strand #1

Safety & Violence Prevention

Strand #2

Academic Achievement & School Leadership

Relevance

School safety continues to gain national headlines as incidents of school violence challenges school leaders to find solutions. There have been over seventy school shootings since Sandy Hook. Safe schools are critical to academic achievement and student success. Principal Brian Bolden trained his staff to prepare for the unthinkable - an "active shooter" on campus. Learn the amazing strategies implemented at R. E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy last year that helped all staff and students arrive home safely. The hands on presentation will provide leaders with specific strategies to help prepare schools to become safer and produce a strong academic climate of success.

Brief Program Description

Imagine an active shooter entering your school, what would you do, would your school be prepared? Learn the amazing strategies Principal Brian Bolden implemented in training the staff of R. E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy that helped all staff and students arrive home safely. This hands on presentation will help prepare leaders for the unthinkable, an "active shooter" on campus".

Summary

On August 20, 2013, an active shooter entered Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy and fired shots. Shots were fired inside the school and also at police officers who arrived on campus. No students or staff were injured. Dr. Brian Bolden and the staff of R.E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy received praise and recognition from around the country including a Skype call from US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan commending the leadership that was demonstrated. This event has been deemed the "Miracle on Second Avenue". The presentation, "Leading in Crisis: When an active shooter enters your school - R.E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy" will focus on the specific training techniques that helped prepare the staff to lockdown the school and evacuate all students. All participants will receive copies of the PowerPoint and handouts to take home and redeliver to staff on preparing schools for a major crisis. The presentation will also focus on leading before a crisis, leading during a crisis, and leading after a crisis. The presenter will also provide training on communicating with the press and a variety of stakeholders. Participants will take place in active discussions, de-escalation training, role plays, crisis scenarios, and team building activities.

Evidence

The proposal and presentation is based and supported on known research and practices from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 cfsteam@hq.dhs.gov www.dhs.go

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Brian L. Bolden Executive Profile Award-winning educator, author, speaker, and nationally recognized principal of R.E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy. Dr. Brian Bolden is an accomplished school leader with a demonstrated ability to maintain a safe school, significantly improve student achievement, improve the graduation rate, reduce discipline challenges, develop and train leaders, communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders, and turn a needs improvement school into a nationally ranked school of excellence as evidenced by US News and World Report 2011-2012 Best High Schools List. Professional Experience R.E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy June 2012 to Present DeKalb County School District Decatur, GA DeKalb County School District February 2009 to 2012 Principal- Stephenson High School Stone Mountain, GA DeKalb County School District April 2008 to February 2009 Region V Area Instructional Coordinator Stone Mountain, GA Supported principals within the region Assisted principals with implementing and monitoring state and local policies relating to curriculum, instruction, and assessment Professional Accomplishments: Received praise and recognition from US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for his leadership when an active shooter entered R.E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy and no students or staff were injured and everyone arrived home safely. Guest appearance on CNN's Piers Morgan Live and numerous media outlets to discuss school safety and leadership. Served on a panel at Agnes Scott University with representatives from the office of the U. S. Secretary of Education to address some of the challenges facing urban high school students Received prestigious Silver Award from US News and World Report for Stephenson High School achieving recognition for the 35th Best High School in Georgia and being ranked in the top 10% of high schools in the nation. Authored book on Differentiated Instruction- You Just Don't Understand Me: Utilizing Differentiated Instructional Strategies to Reduce Classroom Discipline Challenges and Improve Student Achievement Received Proclamation from Ms. Tonya Peterson (former Mayor of Lithonia) for Creating High Expectations at Stephenson High School and having May 16th recognized as "Dr. Bolden Day"

Keyword Descriptors

School safety, leadership, climate, school culture, achievement, discipline

Presentation Year

2015

Start Date

3-2-2015 3:00 PM

End Date

3-2-2015 4:15 PM

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Mar 2nd, 3:00 PM Mar 2nd, 4:15 PM

Leading in Crisis: When An Active Shooter Enters Your School

Vernon

Imagine an active shooter entering your school, what would you do, would your school be prepared? Learn the amazing strategies Principal Brian Bolden implemented in training the staff of R. E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy that helped all staff and students arrive home safely. This hands on presentation will help prepare leaders for the unthinkable, an "active shooter" on campus".