MONROE -- The city of Monroe hosted a statewide conference on school safety and bullying on Monday.
Folks from Shreveport and as far away as New Orleans came into town for the conference.
The crowd included superintendents, teachers, principals, and even law enforcement from all over the state.
Educators learned how to identify troubled students, to handling bullying in the classroom.
"Part of our purpose is to empower and give school administrators and communities ideas about what they can do to make their campus safer," said special guest speaker Ronald Stephens with the National School Safety Center. "Many of these things don't involve spending enormous amounts of money but does involved mindset change of how we supervise , allow access to our campus, and how we work together to create a safe school environment."
discussed where the nation stands after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Connecticut last December.
"After the Sandy Hook shooting, the key issue for school officials is, how do you create a safe campus without turning it into an armed campus?" said Stephens. "And so the strategy becomes what are some things you can do that are reasonable, that would be appropriate."
He says although it may be difficult for parents to embrace, schools continue to be one of the safest places for their children to be.
He says educators should have a good threat assessment protocol.
"If you hear a rumor or a threat, what actions will be taken? Will you contact mental health professionals or law enforcement?" said Stephens. "So that we can focus more on prevention of violence, than simply a response to violence.
He also recommends working with students to let them know the importance of reporting things that appear suspicious or cause them concern.
"Many times, when these shooting occur, somebody told someone, somewhere at sometime," Stephens said. "It's important to be vigilant and to work together with students, parents, police and the community."
Stephens recommends for educators to review a crisis plan, and to work more closely with police and first responders.
Monday's event was hosted by Kelley and Associates and the City of Monroe.
Folks from Shreveport and as far away as New Orleans came into town for the conference.
The crowd included superintendents, teachers, principals, and even law enforcement from all over the state.
Educators learned how to identify troubled students, to handling bullying in the classroom.
"Part of our purpose is to empower and give school administrators and communities ideas about what they can do to make their campus safer," said special guest speaker Ronald Stephens with the National School Safety Center. "Many of these things don't involve spending enormous amounts of money but does involved mindset change of how we supervise , allow access to our campus, and how we work together to create a safe school environment."
discussed where the nation stands after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Connecticut last December.
"After the Sandy Hook shooting, the key issue for school officials is, how do you create a safe campus without turning it into an armed campus?" said Stephens. "And so the strategy becomes what are some things you can do that are reasonable, that would be appropriate."
He says although it may be difficult for parents to embrace, schools continue to be one of the safest places for their children to be.
He says educators should have a good threat assessment protocol.
"If you hear a rumor or a threat, what actions will be taken? Will you contact mental health professionals or law enforcement?" said Stephens. "So that we can focus more on prevention of violence, than simply a response to violence.
He also recommends working with students to let them know the importance of reporting things that appear suspicious or cause them concern.
"Many times, when these shooting occur, somebody told someone, somewhere at sometime," Stephens said. "It's important to be vigilant and to work together with students, parents, police and the community."
Stephens recommends for educators to review a crisis plan, and to work more closely with police and first responders.
Monday's event was hosted by Kelley and Associates and the City of Monroe.
