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Virtual Event will Address Current and Emerging School Safety Issues and Threats
WASHINGTON – The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced today the agenda and keynote speakers for the second annual 2023 National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security on November 1-2, 2023. The virtual Summit will convene federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial school leaders to discuss current threats and issues in school safety and explore research-informed strategies for addressing security challenges and risks in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools.
Speakers at the 2023 Summit will include school safety experts, practitioners, and government and community leaders, who will highlight research and strategies on topics such as social media and youth mental health, proactive approaches to prevent school violence, youth suicide prevention, and implementing multi-tiered systems of support to promote student wellbeing and positive school climate. School safety and security professionals from K-12 schools and districts will also share best practices to create supportive school communities, protect student data from cyberattacks, and access school safety grants. Additional speakers will include parents and educators directly impacted by school violence, who will share their experiences and insights on leading schools in recovery and maximizing teacher and staff engagement in school safety efforts.
Keynote speakers for the 2023 Summit will include Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, CISA Director Jen Easterly, Senator Chris Murphy, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Samantha Vinograd, and CISA Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security Dr. David Mussington.
“I’m honored to have these accomplished and innovative school safety leaders join us at CISA’s second annual National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly. “Their perspectives and insights underscore the importance of addressing our school safety challenges through a multidisciplinary and holistic lens that includes those critical prevention activities necessary to get at the root causes of school violence. The Summit will serve as a forum to have these conversations, as well as advance practical and actionable solutions to help schools keep pace with a constantly evolving threat landscape.”
Launched in 2022, the annual Summit is designed to foster a nationwide dialogue on school safety, as well as equip school stakeholders and personnel with resources, training, and expertise to apply in their local school settings and communities. The event is part of CISA’s continued work to build partnerships across K-12 communities and provide access to evidence-based school safety and security resources and tools.
Attendees, including members of the media, can register for the Summit until October 31. The event is open to any interested stakeholder in school safety and security, including K-12 school and district administrators; principals and superintendents; school-based law enforcement; teachers and school staff; mental health practitioners; first responders; federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government partners; and other school safety and security professionals.
To register for the Summit, please visit 2023cisaschoolsummit.eventbrite.com. Additional information can be found at cisa.gov/national-school-safety-summit
