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!
- 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:
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Dr. Brooks Straub, Executive Director of School Safety and Operations
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James Finley, Deputy Chief of School Safety and Security
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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.
Breakout Session Preview
Here is just a sample of the impactful learning at this year's Expo!- 89th Legislation Impact on EOP | Presented by: Brian Clason, Texas School Safety Center Associate Director of School Safety Readiness
- Aligning BTA and Management in your MTSS | Presented by Shelley Garza-Clark & Ashley Whitley, Region 4 Regional Coordinators
- Incident Command Systems for School-Based Leaders | Presented by Dean Hensley, Assistant Chief, Waller County Fire Marshal’s Office & Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management)
- Proactive Leadership During Student Protests, Lessons Learned | Cynthia Benitez, Channelview ISD Director of Safety and Emergency Operations
- Texas Opioid Prevention for Students (TOPS) | Presented by: Dr. Ninfa Pena-Purcell, PhD, MCHES
- When Coincidence Breeds Chaos: A Hoax Threat at a Texas School | Presented by Jamie Woodall, Waller ISD Executive Director of School Safety
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
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7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m
Registration/Check-In
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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)
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9:45 a.m.-10:05 a.m.
Visit the Exhibit Hall
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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.
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10:50 a.m.–11:20 a.m.
Visit the Exhibit Hall
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11:20 a.m.–11:50 a.m.
Dr. Rod Paige Awards Ceremony
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12:00 p.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join Our Sponsors for Lunch & a Chance to Win an iPad!
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12:30 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
Visit the Exhibit Hall
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1:10 p.m.–2:10 p.m.
Session 1 Breakouts
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2:10 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Visit the Exhibit Hall
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2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
Session 2 Breakouts
Session Topics
FREE Event
Reserve your seatIn-Person Expo:
Region 4 McKinney Conference Center
7200 Northwest Drive, Houston, Texas, 77092
