CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: 2026 Virginia School Safety Training Forum

2:00 KEYNOTE: Prevention Is Possible: Lessons From Averted School Attacks – A National and Virginia Perspective

Lina Alathari, Chief of the National Threat Assessment Center, U.S. Secret Service

Targeted violence is preventable. Lina Alathari, Chief of the National Threat Assessment Center, will break down findings from 67 disrupted plots against schools. The presentation will identify common warning signs, such as grievances with classmates or an interest in violent topics, and highlight the critical role of bystander reporting.

3:00 KEYNOTE/PANEL DISCUSSION: Seeing the Risks Clearly – Protecting Children Online

Tom Wheeler, Chair, Federal School Safety Task Force

Moderator Tom Wheeler, Chair of the Federal School Safety Task Force, will lead a discussion with local, state, and federal panelists to bring hidden threats into clearer view while offering strategies that empower students to safeguard themselves.

8:30 KEYNOTE: Tracing the Pathway to Violence: What Digital Leakage Reveals During Virginia Threat Assessments

Theresa Campbell, President and CEO, Safer Schools Together
Steven MacDonald, Director of Training and Development, Safer Schools Together

Nearly 90% of today's threats are communicated digitally; therefore, an accurate risk assessment cannot be made without assessing a threat maker’s digital behavioral baseline. This session brings today’s evolving digital safety challenges into focus, including threat-related behavior, online harassment, swatting incidents, and AI‑driven misinformation. Participants will gain a clear view of emerging threats and how they are shaping the future of school safety in Virginia and nationwide, as well as practical tools for those striving to help students navigate these challenges.

9:30 KEYNOTE: Adjusting the Aperture: Finding Hope and Safety in a Digital World

Margaret Sedor, Ph.D., NCSP, LEP, School Psychologist and School Safety and Crisis Response Committee, National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Behind every notification is a heartbeat. Behind every scroll is a search for connection, or a cry for help. As the digital landscape evolves, so must our framework for youth suicide prevention. For many educators and clinicians, social media is often viewed through a narrow lens of risk—cyberbullying, social comparison, screen time, and sleep deprivation. However, to truly support the modern student, we must adjust the aperture to capture a more comprehensive picture of the digital experience to find hope and safety in a digital world.

FOCUSED LEARNING TRACKS: Three Lenses, One Vision 

Choose from targeted workshop sessions to expand your perspective and advance the school safety vision. (Space is limited, so pre-registration in Sched is required.)

LENS 1: Physical Safety ~ LENS 2: Social Emotional Safety ~ LENS 3: Prevention and Planning

10:30 – 11:30    Workshops: Session A
11:30 – 1:00      Midday Connections – Enjoy lunch while engaging with colleagues and partners who are helping lead the way in student safety.
1:00 – 2:00        Workshops: Session B
2:15 – 3:15        Workshops: Session C

Topics include:  

1. Addressing Violent Online Networks Targeting Virginia’s Youth: What Educators and Public Safety Officials Need to Know (Sajan, Laine)
2. A Systemic Framework for Digital Safety and Hope (Sedor)
3. Beyond the Badge: Bringing School Safety Into Focus Through Community-Minded Leadership (Hill)
4. Considerations for Making Sound School Safety Equipment Purchasing Decisions (Hough)
5. Drug Awareness and Resistance Education (DARE) Updates (Hefner)
6. Four Proactive Priorities for Decision-Making in Schools (Tan)
7. From Classroom to Command Post: Integrating School Critical Incident Response (Pass)
8. Leading the Way in Protecting Students Online: Building a Safer Digital Future Together (Gilstrap)
9. Legal Issues in Schools: Where’s the Line Between Enforcing the Student Code of Conduct and Enforcing the Law? (Casey, Smith)
10. Mitigating and Preventing Cannabis and Vaping Use in K-12 Virginia Schools (Bonat)
11. More Legal Issues in Schools (Casey, Smith)
12. Steady Minds: Empowering SROs to Help Kids Build Mental Fitness (Hickerson) 
13. Seeing Schools Through a CPTED Lens: A Guided Tour of Virginia’s New School Safety Inspection Checklist (Simon)
14. The Digital Drug Market: Threats, Trends, and Intervention Methods for Youth Safety (Campbell, MacDonald)
15. Why Would Students Come to Your School if They Didn’t Have To? Designing Safe, Caring, and Engaging Learning Communities That Students Choose (Moran, Socol)
16. Virginia Rules: A Law-Related Curriculum (Abbate)

3:30 KEYNOTE: Clarifying the Threat – Understanding and Responding to Anonymous Threats and Swatting

Kathleen M. Gombos, Ed.D, Principal, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut
Brian LeBlanc, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office

Anonymous threats and swatting incidents continue to escalate nationwide, leaving schools and communities grappling with uncertainty, fear, and operational disruption. Dr. Gombos and SA LeBlanc will provide firsthand insight into the complex dynamics behind these threats and the real-world challenges they create for educators and law enforcement. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of why swatting occurs, how anonymous threats are evaluated, and what coordinated strategies can strengthen prevention, communication, and response efforts. Through expert perspectives and practical guidance, this session aims to equip participants with clearer frameworks for decision-making and enhanced readiness for these increasingly sophisticated incidents.

8:45 KEYNOTE: From Tragedy to Change: Stand With Parkland’s Story

Tony Montalto, President, Stand with Parkland, Parkland, Florida

A moving and instructive session highlighting how hard‑earned lessons can guide leaders in creating clearer, stronger safety systems.

10:00 EXERCISE: Mapping the Vision: Practical Skills for Clearer Planning and Coordination

Alex Carney, Chief Sales Officer, Critical Response Group  
Adam Keene, Assistant Director, Public Safety Training and the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety, and Manager, Critical Incident Response and Program, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services

A hands‑on emergency planning exercise that reinforces key concepts and helps translate the school safety vision into focused, actionable strategies, followed by closing reflections.