2024 Virginia School Safety Training Forum

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to partner with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), the Virginia Association for School Superintendents (VASS), the Virginia D.A.R.E. Association, and the Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) to offer the 2024 Virginia School Safety Training Forum.

This year’s Forum will be held in Hampton, Virginia, on July 30-31, 2024. The Forum will feature engaging keynote speakers and interactive workshops for as many as 1000 participants in the fields of school and division leadership, school security, law enforcement, PreK-12 counseling and mental health, and others with a role in ensuring schools are safe places to work and learn. 

The theme of the Forum, “Preparation and Partnerships: Breaking Down Silos to Improve School Safety” illustrates that communication, partnership, understanding our roles and the roles of others, is critical to ensuring our schools are safe places to work and learn.  

During this event, participants will have the opportunity to hear from renowned experts on a multitude of topics related to school safety including, but not limited to:  

• Active Shooter Incident Management

• Bullying: Prevention and Effective Policies for the Whole School Community

• Crisis Management – A Case Study 

• Crisis Management and Critical Incident Overview of New Curriculum

• Cultural Intelligence: The Key to Stronger Relationships and a Safer School Climate

• D.A.R.E. Updates

• Enlisting Stakeholder Support in Behavioral Threat Assessment

• Gaining Ground on Fentanyl in our Schools

• Helping Youth Build Healthy Relationships In Real Life (IRL) and Online

• Internet Safety Resources from the Experts

• Know.Talk.Ask:  A Hopeful Approach to Suicide Prevention

• Legal: Virginia Rules

• Legal: Where’s the Line Between Enforcing the Student Code of Conduct and Enforcing the Law? 

• Leveraging Relationships Between Schools and Law Enforcement through S-LEP

• Making Schools Work for Everyone

• Optimizing Your SRO’s Service on the Threat Assessment Team

• School Resource Officers (SRO) and School Security Officers (SSO): Healing Partners in Student Relationships

• School Safety Audit & Climate Survey– Data Driven Decision Making

• Social Media’s Impact on Youth Mental Health, and What We Can Do About It

• Technology & School Safety – Hoaxes, AI, Deep Fakes, and Swatting

• Utilizing Trauma-Informed Practices for De-Escalation 

Featured Keynotes include:

Frank DeAngelis

Frank DeAngelis, retired principal of Columbine High School, served as an educator for the Jeffco School District in Littleton Colorado. He began his career in 1979 as a social studies teacher and filled the roles of head baseball coach, assistant football coach, dean of students, and assistant principal, before becoming principal in 1996. Frank is a Colorado native who completed his K-12 education in Denver-area schools. He graduated from Metropolitan State College with a bachelor’s degree in education and from the University of Colorado with a master's degree in secondary education and social studies. He later earned his principal’s license and master's degree from the University of Phoenix. Frank has been involved in numerous professional activities and associations, and has received multiple awards for his teaching, leadership, and coaching skills. A national-level speaker, Frank has addressed numerous professional and school audiences on the topic of recovery after a school-based tragedy. He has visited, consulted with, and assisted school communities across the country following incidents of violence and tragedy, including Platte Canyon, Chardon, Virginia Tech, and Sandy Hook. Frank has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his lifetime of service as an educator. He was selected as Colorado High Principal of the Year and was one of three finalists for National Principal of the Year. He has recently received the Jefferson Country Lifetime Achievement Award and the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builders Award. Frank retired in June of 2014 after 35 years at Columbine High School. He is presently serving as a consultant for safety and emergency management for the Jeffco School District in Colorado, and continues to travel nationally and internationally, speaking and consulting. 

Wayland Cubit

Lt. Wayland Cubit currently serves as the Director of Security for Oklahoma City Public Schools. He is an Oklahoma native with a distinguished career in law enforcement spanning over 26 years. Throughout his journey, Lt. Cubit has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving at-risk youth and implementing positive programs that bring about lasting change. Lt. Cubit will kick off the conference with an entertaining and inspirational session that will facilitate self-reflection and a greater understanding of the youth we serve and those with whom we serve.   

Dr. Jim Harris