From the Field: The Maryland School Safety Initiative
- Brandon Bain
- Jan 28, 2017
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 7, 2024
Last week took me out on the road again but in the most familiar territory, my home state of Maryland.
Safe and Sound Schools joined the Maryland Center for School Safety on a cross-the-state tour of school safety training for Maryland educators, leaders, law enforcement, fire, and mental health professionals.
Our trip and our training was a gift—literally. Last February Safe and Sound Schools was awarded a grant from Maryland-based non-profit, BFG Community Foundation to focus our efforts and our attention on the Maryland schools.
<img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-6602 alignright lazyload" src="https://safeandsoundschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_1671-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="320" />And that’s just what we did. Together with the Maryland Center, we launched our first Maryland School Safety Initiative. We’ve been working jointly for a year now, bringing national and local leadership and Safe and Sound resources to Maryland schools.
This work culminated in a teaching and training tour, Beyond Tragedy: Preparing the Maryland Schools for a Safer Tomorrow. We brought together a team of national and local educators and trainers, traveling from Cambridge to Fredrick, to Annapolis, connecting us with many of Maryland’s finest and most dedicated leaders and school safety professionals.
Bill Modzeleski, Safe and Sound Advisor and Former Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, joined us to moderate the event. Bill’s national perspective and years of experience in the field set the tone for three successful days.
Dan Jewiss, CT law enforcement expert, offered his professional insights on improved emergency response and caring for victims, co-workers, and self in the aftermath of tragedy.
I followed with my personal perspective as a former teacher and Sandy Hook parent, touching on lessons learned in prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. But I can’t help but feel that it’s the indomitable spirit of my daughter Joey that was most meaningful to bring to each group.
Ben Fernandez, lead school psychologist, crisis team leader, and trainer for the National Association of School Psychologists shared professional insights and experiences, as well as familiarity with many of the local school safety and mental health challenges our Maryland schools face.
Ed Clarke and Dino Pignataro of the Maryland Center for School Safety joined us in discussion throughout the day and provided three fantastic training sites for the event. Their leadership and relationships with school safety practitioners and leaders across Maryland made this joint venture possible.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about an event like this for all of us was the opportunity to engage with the local experts and communities we are so honored to serve. Safe and Sound brings national and local experts and community members together. It’s our mission and our passion. Still, to watch it happen in communities across the country and in Maryland is a great honor and a true inspiration.
Thank you to the BFG Community Foundation, The Maryland Center for School Safety, and the many professionals who joined us across Maryland.
It’s amazing what we can do when we come together.
Michele Gay, Co-founder & Executive Director of Safe and Sound Schools
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