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The School Safety Expo is a free, in-person event open to anyone passionate about creating safer schools, including educators, law enforcement, emergency responders, families, and community members. If you care about school safety, you belong here. Learn from dynamic speakers, explore best practices, and gain insights into the latest safety strategies. Strengthen your network and your protocols!

Register today!

  • Enhance Your School Safety Protocols: Learn from specially curated instructional tracks designed to provide practical tools and knowledge—all at no cost.
  • Network and Collaborate: Connect with administrators, campus police, emergency responders, and safety coordinators to strengthen your school’s safety system.
  • Hear from Dynamic Speakers: Gain insights on the latest trends and strategies in school safety from industry experts, including these 3 from the Texas Education Agency
 
Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to hear directly from state leadership.

The School Safety Expo will feature a powerhouse panel discussion with three of Texas' top school safety experts from the Texas Education Agency. Gain first-hand insights, updates, and answers from:

  • Dr. Brooks Straub, Executive Director of School Safety and Operations

  • James Finley, Deputy Chief of School Safety and Security

  • John Jones, Assistant Chief of School Safety and Security

This is your chance to engage with the team shaping safety policy and oversight across the state—come with questions, leave with clarity and direction.

 

Keynote Speaker

...
Kevin L. Foust

Keynote Speaker: Kevin L. Foust, Retired Associate Vice President for Safety and Security
Topic: Virginia Tech: Lessons from April 16, 2007

Kevin Foust shares insights from the tragic Virginia Tech shootings, examining the shooter’s background, law enforcement response, mistakes made, and critical lessons learned. This powerful session explores how threat assessment processes evolved after the event and challenges attendees to reflect on their own preparedness and decision-making in crisis situations.

Expo Agenda

  • 7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m

    Registration/Check-In

  • 8:00 a.m.–9:45 a.m.

    Welcome and Opening Keynote: Kevin L. Foust, Associate Vice President for Safety and Security, Virginia Tech (Retired)

  • 9:45 a.m.-10:05 a.m.

    Visit the Exhibit Hall

  • 10:05 a.m.–10:50 a.m.

    Leadership Panel: Discussion with three of Texas’s top school safety experts from the Texas Education Agency.

  • 10:50 a.m.–11:20 a.m.

    Visit the Exhibit Hall

  • 11:20 a.m.–11:50 a.m.

    Dr. Rod Paige Awards Ceremony

  • 12:00 p.m.–12:30 p.m.

    Join Our Sponsors for Lunch & a Chance to Win an iPad!

  • 12:30 p.m.–1:10 p.m.

    Visit the Exhibit Hall

  • 1:10 p.m.–2:10 p.m.

    Session 1 Breakouts

  • 2:10 p.m.–2:30 p.m.

    Visit the Exhibit Hall

  • 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

    Session 2 Breakouts

Session Topics

Explore strategies that support the physical and mental well being of students and staff. Topics may include prevention initiatives, mental health awareness, self-care, trauma-informed practices, and building healthier school communities.

Share actionable insights on school safety planning, crisis response, and operational readiness. Sessions can cover safety audits, threat response, crisis communication, cybersecurity, and effective emergency protocols

Help others discover how to foster welcoming and respectful school environments. Ideal topics include behavior management, restorative practices, community partnerships, and schoolwide strategies that promote student success and safety.

Presenters in this strand will help participants stay informed on evolving policies, legal compliance, grant funding, and other critical considerations for sustaining effective safety programs.

FREE Event

Reserve your seat

We'll See you there

October 30 2025, Thursday

Region 4 McKinney Conference Center
7200 Northwest Drive, Houston, Texas, 77092

TX

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