Christin Kinman of Allegion has organized a fantastic event – please share it with your network of teachers, school administrators, security directors, parents, and beyond!
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Breaking Down Silos: Moving From Education to Action
By Christin Kinman, MPH
A few months ago, while working on a project for my doctorate, I stumbled upon research that shifted my perspective on school security. We know that creating safe environments for students is essential, but what if some of the very measures meant to protect them actually make them feel less safe?
Studies show that as the presence of physical security measures increases, students’ perceptions of psychological safety decrease (Aldridge & Blackstock, 2024; National Association of School Psychologists, 2018). This was surprising—even as someone immersed in the world of physical security, I hadn’t realized the extent of its impact on student well-being.
But this issue goes beyond security itself—it’s a multifactorial problem. Social-emotional learning, mental health, school facility conditions, and physical security are interconnected, yet they are often addressed separately. Another finding that stood out to me: low-level offenses, like incivilities and bullying, predict students’ feelings of safety more strongly than violent experiences do (Lacoe, 2015).
This raises an essential question: Are we working together effectively to ensure school safety?
Too often, conversations about school security happen in silos. IT directors don’t always hear about the challenges faced by school mental health professionals. Teachers may be unaware of the infrastructure changes introduced by facilities managers. And crucially—when schools review violent incidents, one of the most frequent takeaways is this: better communication could have helped prevent the tragedy.
That realization led me to do something ambitious—something that some might call a little crazy.
I decided to plan a conference—one that breaks down silos and facilitates real collaboration between disciplines. Enter the Education to Action School Security Summit: a one-day, solutions-driven event designed to bring together everyone involved in keeping schools safe.
This summit is not just for security professionals. It’s for teachers, administrators, bus drivers, school nurses, IT experts, risk managers, security directors, and parents—because everyone plays a role in fostering safe learning environments.
We are bringing together national experts like Dr. Dewey Cornell, a leading specialist in Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management, along with organizations such as the National Center for School Safety and the Maryland Center for School Safety.
Attendees can also receive critical hands-on training, including:
- Stop the Bleed emergency response
- ALIVE Active Shooter Training
- Tabletop exercises on cybersecurity, preventing violence, and fostering inclusive school climates
Every session is designed to translate knowledge into action, ensuring that attendees walk away with concrete strategies to implement immediately.
So here’s my call to action: Join us.
Be part of the movement to build safer, more connected and inclusive schools where students can focus on learning—not survival.
When & Where?
June 25, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Martins Crosswinds, Greenbelt, MD
Click HERE to register and learn more!
Let’s move from education to action—together.
References
Aldridge, J. M., & Blackstock, M. J. (2024). Assessing students’ perceptions of school climate in primary schools. Learning Environments Research, 27(3), 579–602.
Lacoe, J. R. (2015). Unequally Safe. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541204014532659
National Association of School Psychologists. (2018). School security measures and their impact on students [Research summary]. Bethesda, MD
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