Great Lakes Association for School Safety

04/28/2026

Condensing YEARS of learning into a few days: the power of professional conferences.

In-person conferences offer a level of engagement and connection that is difficult to replicate in virtual settings. One of the most significant benefits is the opportunity for genuine human interaction. Face-to-face conversations allow for richer communication through body language, tone, and immediate feedback, helping build stronger professional relationships. These spontaneous exchanges—whether during networking sessions, coffee breaks, or hallway conversations—often lead to collaborations, mentorships, or new opportunities that might not arise in structured online environments.

Another advantage is the immersive learning experience. Being physically present helps attendees stay focused and absorb information more effectively, free from the distractions of everyday surroundings. Live presentations, workshops, and panel discussions also tend to feel more dynamic and engaging, as speakers can respond to audience reactions in real time. This creates a more interactive atmosphere that enhances understanding and retention.

In-person conferences also provide valuable exposure to new ideas, tools, and trends. Exhibitor halls and demonstrations allow attendees to experience products and services firsthand, ask detailed questions, and make informed decisions. Additionally, stepping outside one’s usual environment can spark creativity and fresh thinking, as participants are surrounded by peers who share similar interests and goals.

Finally, attending conferences in person can strengthen a sense of community and belonging within a field or industry. Sharing experiences, challenges, and successes with others fosters a deeper connection and reinforces professional identity. Yet it is through the interactions of the sessions and breaks that new ideas are formed. Whether an idea which revolutionizes the industry or simply improves organization the attendee serves, every idea applied is worth the cost of the conference, as the shared knowledge of years of others life-experiences are condensed into a few days of attendance. THAT is the power of the conference.

Great Lakes Association for School Safety
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04/02/2026

Yesterday a County Emergency manger speaking of GLASS '25 said, "It was well worth the time and money! You can't say that about most conferences."

Will you miss out on ?
https://greatlakesschoolsafety.org/register/

03/31/2026

What are you facing in ?

https://s.surveyplanet.com/z7m52h6u

Collaboration with other school safety leaders - sharing, swapping, improving, and generating ideas - is a great way to get ahead! All happening at https://greatlakesschoolsafety.org/register/ With Kelly Martin and Guy Bliesner!

Thank you to ACAP-Solutions for leading sponsorship!

If you are looking for a , this is an opportunity to fill the gap!

We want to help create safety improvement! What areas do you want to hear from other safety leaders on?

03/26/2026

Do you have10 years experience or have you repeated 1 year 10 times?


Experience matters in many fields and that is no less true in .

There isn't anyone in school safety who knows it all, who has all the answers. That's why you will find the most knowledgeable leaders at conferences: because they are continually learning.

This isn't a new concept, perhaps the largest benefit of a written language is the ability to convey information over time and distance. Even before the printing press, books were used, with scrolls used before that. The sharing of information as long advanced society.

From the Greek assembly to Ben Franklin's junto, group discussions or conferences have promoted the exchange of ideas and development of new concepts and approaches.

While the digital access of the modern age has given us Kindle and Ted talks, it has not diminished the value of learning.

While professional associations achieve this goal through creating the increased opportunity for connection and conversation, perhaps the greatest strength of many is that they require ongoing learning. As the late, great Lou Holtz often said, "In this world you're either growing or you're dying, so get in motion and grow!"

That growth happens for us personally and professionally, which means it benefits all those around us. Especially in a profession that is young (school safety), growth is a necessity. We need to grow to be of true benefit to those we serve. If you are in school safety, what are you doing to grow?

03/19/2026

Regional School Safety Roundtables and keynote speakers with expertise in Comprehensive School Safety Planning!

https://greatlakesschoolsafety.org/register/

03/18/2026

Join us for the Great Lakes Association of School Safety RoundTable discussions on prominent school safety matters!

https://greatlakesschoolsafety.org/register/

03/03/2026

SAFE PREP

Weather events reward preparation. Procedures must be clear, practiced, and tied to real shelter locations.

When was the last time your building’s shelter areas were evaluated?

We often find that “storm shelters” have become storage areas, sometimes even hazardous chemicals. More often, current security measures preclude entering the area previously designated as a shelter.

What do most schools do? - Use the hallway. -

That may be the best solution; however it may not. We often find more appropriate shelter areas. The important thing here is to have expertise in making that determination. We also look for areas to provide the best protection from totality of external dangers. The most common of these is the tornado, but can include other hazards, such as a chemical spill.

Once these areas are chosen, they should be signed. These do not have to be expensive, they simply need to be a visual reminder of where to go. People respond more efficiently when they have to think less – signage does this (much like marking “safer corners”).

Next, how do you drill? Have you gotten into a poor practice, a “response rut”, moving from the same room to the same shelter every time? If there is danger in the path, what would you do? We need to teach and practice moving to safety, not following an arrow.

Many schools have also gotten into the “stopwatch” habit: running drills by a stopwatch and judging success by how quickly it’s over. Certainly, returning to education is important. However, if we don’t learn anything from drill time, we have wasted the time. It is more important to do it right than to do it fast; it is more important still to learn something in the process.

Finally, all of the practices and documents should be in line. Our documents should include the language we use and show the shelter areas chosen. Those shelter areas should be signed so that live locations and maps align and simplify movement. With all of this documented, you have a good plan to share with first responders (in case they are needed) and you can show you have done your part!

This week’s move (3 quick actions):
• Verify shelter locations and occupancy limits – ADD SIGNAGE.
• TRAIN PROPERLY – don’t get in a “response rut”; move to SAFETY; do it right, not fast.
• Update your procedure language to be action-based and align it with the building map.
• Proof to capture: shelter map + updated procedure with approval date + practice/drill notes.

02/11/2026

relies heavily on and .

Like every other area of education, they are increasingly asked to do more with less. Worse, while the people in these areas work hard, their efforts often go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Both can be addressed through periodic building walks with the key staff in building use, leadership, maintenance, and operations supervision. Walking together provides the opportunity for communication, enhancing the connection between those involved. If these times are used to point out the strengths (note what is appreciated, what is going well, what has been fixed), spending some time to brainstorm any issues brings a collaborative mindset to challenges.

Unfortunately, like most other areas, there is limited money to go around.

Documentation and planning are key to helping schools appropriately use both sinking funds and grants for school upkeep and safety improvements. Everyone needs to know where components are currently functioning or failing, what their life expectancy is, and to work towards a plan to replace them. While we wait for federal and state funding for these drastically needed areas, we must realistically address the ongoing truth: that buildings and components age and that as they do so they will need to be replaced.

02/01/2026

We are excited to open the call for speakers! If you're in and have successful programs, others need to hear about them!
https://lnkd.in/e6p5tFQy

If you are a , tell us what areas you want to hear from others. This conference will feature large scale round-table sessions, to address the leading concerns of those leading .

Register now to join us in Traverse City!
https://lnkd.in/gCUGuKhA

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

02/01/2026

We are excited to open the call for speakers! If you're in and have successful programs, others need to hear about them! https://lnkd.in/e6p5tFQy If you are a , tell us what areas you want to hear from others. This conference will feat...