Below are the biographies and session descriptions (coming soon!) of this year’s National Summit on School Safety presenters. Safe and Sound Schools is proud to offer a lineup of leading national and regional school safety experts and leaders from across the field! More presenters will be added soon so check back regularly for updates!
Alissa Parker
Biography:
Alissa is the mother of Emilie Parker, one of the 20 children who died tragically in the Sandy Hook School Shootings on December 14, 2012. In the wake of the tragedy, Alissa was moved to engage parents in securing the safety of their children’s school by becoming an active member of the Newtown Public Schools’ Safety Committee. Now, Alissa is a nationally-recognized advocate for school safety, speaking to school communities, educational leadership events, and top news sources across the United States.
Alissa graduated from Weber State University in her hometown of Ogden, Utah. She is a Co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools, and also co-founded The Emilie Parker Art Connection, which gives to art programs for kids across the country. She is the author of the book, An Unseen Angel, a memoir of faith, hope and healing. Alissa brings a powerful perspective and passion to Safe and Sound Schools. She is devoted to creating a legacy of safety for our nation’s children in honor of her beloved Emilie.
Keynote: Safe and Sound Schools: From Hindsight to Foresight
Alissa Parker & Michele Gay–The mothers of Josephine Gay and Emilie Parker, killed in the Sandy Hook School tragedy, and co-founders of Safe and Sound Schools, share their stories and lessons that sparked this national movement.
Breakout Session: Parents as Partners: Building Positive and Proactive Roles for Parents in the School Community
Alissa Parker leads an honest discussion about how to plug parents into the work of school safety, answering the questions on many school leaders’ minds: “What do we say to the parents?” “How much is too much?” and “How can they really help?” Sharing resources from Safe and Sound’s Parents for Safer Schools Program and experiences from Safe and Sound Parent Leaders, Alissa opens the door to strategies for building productive parent interactions and relationships and tapping into parents as resources to build safe and sound schools together.
Dr. Amanda Nickerson
Biography:
Amanda B. Nickerson, PhD is a professor of school psychology and director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention at the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York. She is a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed psychologist, fellow of the American Psychological Association, and member of NASP’s School Safety and Crisis Response Committee. Her research focuses on prevention and intervention of school crises, violence, and bullying, and the critical role of schools, parents, and peers in promoting social-emotional strengths of children and adolescents.
Dr. CJ Huff
Biography:
Dr. C.J. Huff is an educator with over 20 years of experience as a classroom teacher, principal and superintendent. On May 22, 2011, Dr. Huff was superintendent when the costliest tornado in U.S. history hit Joplin, Missouri, with 200 mph winds devastating the community and destroying or damaging 10 of the 19 schools in his district. Dr. Huff successfully led his district of 1,100 employees and 7,700 students through recovery efforts, and since his retirement, has continued to support schools dealing with natural and man-made disasters and consulted with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Session Description: The Bright Futures Framework: Every Child, Every Day
Are you concerned about children who come to school with basic needs not being met? Do you wish your community took more ownership in the success of children and youth? In this interactive session, learn how communities are rallying together using the Bright Futures Framework (BrightFuturesUSA.Org) to create sustainable systems to support children and create exciting new opportunities for students to learn and grow.
Clayton Douglas
Biography:
Clayton Douglas was born and raised in West Allis, Wisconsin. He spent his childhood imagining other places, and took to drawing to create those fantastic places. Entering his teen years, Clayton struggled with depression, suicidal thoughts, and years of abuse at home. Later, he would turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of escape. Clayton would ultimately rise above these challenges and move to San Francisco. There he continued exploring image creation, put himself through Academy of Art University and began to address his experiences and mental health as an adult. Graduating in 2005, Clayton began working in architecture, film and advertising, using his animation/design and photography skills, ultimately founding an animation and visual effects studio with a partner. Now acquired by a larger company, Clayton continues work within the business he built.
Cynthia Marble
Biography:
Cynthia Marble serves as SIGMA’s Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President for Training Operations, overseeing all training, consultation, and program development operations throughout the U.S. She is a nationally-recognized leader with over 25 years of experience in the fields of threat assessment and threat management, protective intelligence investigations, national security, executive protection, and global security operations. Before joining SIGMA, Mrs. Marble served for over 26 years with the U.S. Secret Service, most recently as the Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Secret Service Houston Field Office.
Frank Straub
Biography:
Frank G. Straub, Ph.D., is the Director of the National Police Foundation’s Center for Mass Violence Response Studies (CMVRS).
Dr. Straub leads the national Averted School Violence project. ASV is a national database, funded by the US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, that collects incidents of averted and completed school attacks. In 2019, Dr. Straub co-authored a report, released by the COPS Office, that analyzed 51 incidents of averted attacks and completed school attacks.
Dr. Straub has served on US Department of Homeland Security and US Department of Justice threat assessment working groups.
Under his leadership, the CMVRS has conducted in-depth studies of targeted mass violence events in San Bernardino, Kalamazoo, Orlando, Parkland and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
Prior to joining the National Police Foundation, Dr. Straub served for more than 30-years in federal, state and local law enforcement. He led law enforcement/public safety agencies in New York, Indiana and the State of Washington. He was the New York City Police Department’s Deputy Commissioner of Training and Assistant Commissioner for Counterterrorism.
Dr. Straub is a non-resident fellow at West Point’s Center for Combatting Terrorism providing expert advice regarding the domestic law enforcement response to terrorism and acts of mass public violence.
Dr. Straub holds a B.A. in Psychology, a M.A. in Forensic Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. He has co-authored a book on performance-based police management as well as articles and reports on school violence, critical incident response, community policing, youth violence prevention and homeland security. He speaks regularly at national and international conferences and has participated in Congressional and White House briefings.
Session Description:
In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Congress appropriated funds to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct research on school violence, especially mass casualty attacks. The NIJ convened a working group of subject matter experts to make recommendations that could be applied to school violence prevention. One of the recommendations was to create a national database that would record incidents of completed, but more importantly, averted school attacks. The National Police Foundation was chosen to develop, implement and maintain the national Averted School Violence (ASV) database.
Dr. Straub will discuss the ASV database, present case studies, and identify promising practices for the prevention of targeted school attacks. In addition, he will discuss critical lessons learned during after action reviews he led of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School and University of North Carolina-Charlotte shootings.
John McDonald
Biography:
John McDonald is the Executive Director of Security and Emergency Management for Jeffco Public Schools, and recognized internationally as the architect of the post Columbine High School tragedy security and emergency management plan. John has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the White House as an expert on active shooter preparedness and emergency planning, and has managed several school-based crisis. He is the founder of ERCM Consultants, LLC, that provides threat management, emergency response and physical security assessment services for educational institutions and law enforcement agencies. In 2015, John was named a Community Game Changer by CBS News for his work protecting kids.
Dr. Lina Alathari
Biography:
Dr. Lina Alathari is the Chief of the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), where she oversees the center’s targeted violence behavioral research program. NTAC research has identified behaviors, motives, and triggers leading to targeted violence, including school and workplace violence, terrorism, and mass attacks in public spaces. Dr. Alathari also oversees NTAC’s training and consultation programs, and frequently presents on threat assessment to government agencies, law enforcement, international security agencies, schools, and corporations. Earlier, Dr. Alathari oversaw the behavior management program for patients who posed a risk for violence, self-harm, and suicide and the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute.
Dr. Melissa Reeves
Biography:
Dr. Melissa Reeves, Ph.D., NCSP, LPC is the past-president of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP, 2016-17), former Chair of the NASP National School Safety and Crisis Response Committee, a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed special education teacher, licensed professional counselor, and former district coordinator of social/emotional/behavioral services. She has won numerous awards, conducted more than 250 workshops and presentations, and co-authored numerous book chapters, journal articles, and four books on school crisis prevention and recovery.
Michele Gay
Biography:
Mother, educator, and co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools, Michele Gay chose to take action after losing her daughter Josephine Grace on December 14, 2012. Since that time, Michele has channeled her work as an advocate, improving safety and security in schools and communities across our country. Now a nationally and internationally recognized public speaker and school safety expert, Michele reaches audiences and consults with all levels of community institutions. Through her work, and always with a goal of helping others increase safety within their own communities, Michele shares her personal experiences and the lessons she has learned.
Keynote: Safe and Sound Schools: From Hindsight to Foresight
Alissa Parker & Michele Gay–The mothers of Josephine Gay and Emilie Parker, killed in the Sandy Hook School tragedy, and co-founders of Safe and Sound Schools, share their stories and lessons that sparked this national movement.
Nick Chernoff
Biography:
Nick Chernoff has been involved with school safety for over a decade, spending the first half as a Safe School Liaison for one of the West Coast’s largest districts. As a member of the Safer Schools Together team, Nick specializes in Social Media Awareness and Digital Threat Assessment. In his current role as a lead threat assessment analyst, he collects social media data that is used to assist schools in North America while addressing worrisome and threat-related online behaviors. Nick provides presentations and workshops to students, parents, educators and law enforcement on social media awareness, as well as personal and public online safety.
Paul Timm
Biography:
Paul Timm, Director of Education Safety at Allegion, is a board-certified Physical Security Professional (PSP) and the author of “School Security: How to Build and Strengthen a School Safety Program.” He was named one of the Most Influential People in Security in 2020 by Security Magazine. In addition to conducting numerous vulnerability assessments and his frequent keynote addresses, Paul is an experienced School Crisis Assistance Team volunteer through the National Organization for Victims Assistance (NOVA). He serves on the Campus Safety Conferences Advisory Board, the Advisory Council for the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools, the ASIS International School Safety and Security Council, and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials Risk Management Committee. He is certified in Vulnerability Assessment Methodology (VAM) through Sandia National Laboratories and the ALPHA vulnerability assessment methodology. Paul holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Moody Theological Seminary.
Susan Payne
Biography:
Susan Payne is a national expert in school safety and founder and former executive director of Safe2Tell, a non-profit prevention initiative developed as a response to the Columbine tragedy. She is a 28-year law enforcement veteran, and was Director of Safe Schools at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office directing the Safe2Tell Colorado prevention initiative. The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education have recognized Susan as an expert in school safety and prevention strategies. Susan also works on environmental design and building safer schools for tomorrow, trains on digital threat assessment for Safer Schools Together, and serves on the National School Safety Consortium.
Dr. Todd A. Savage
Biography:
Todd A. Savage, Ph.D., NCSP, has been a professor of school psychology, Department of Counseling and School Psychology, College of Education & Professional Studies, University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF), since 2008. He has held several leadership positions in the National Association of Schools Psychologists (NASP), and engaged in scholarly and service activities in the areas of culturally-responsive practice; school safety and crisis prevention, preparedness, and intervention; and LGBTQ+ matters in education. Todd earned a BS in psychology from the University of Minnesota, and master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees in school psychology from the University of Kentucky.
Session Description: Understanding & Supporting Gender Diverse Students In Today’s School Setting
This session provides participants with increased awareness and knowledge about transgender and gender diverse students in schools. It will share specific strategies, resources, and tools participants can use to optimize the inclusion and success of transgender and gender diverse students.
Van Brooks
Biography:
Van Brooks was a college bound student athlete in Baltimore, Maryland who had carved his path to success on the football field when the unthinkable happened. After suffering a life-altering spinal cord injury, Van battled his mind and body to rise above adversity again. Van shares a deeply inspirational story about his journey through recovery and ultimately into resiliency and purpose as a leader, advocate for urban youth, and the Founder & Executive Director of the Safe Alternative Foundation in Baltimore.
