The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the inaugural members of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board, a group of school safety experts and education leaders that will provide advice and recommendations on practical ways to enhance K-12 school safety and security.

The board will advise the DHS secretary through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) director on the implementation of evidence-based school safety practices and propose additional best practices for publication on the website SchoolSafety.gov.

SchoolSafety.gov is the federal government’s platform that provides schools and districts with actionable recommendations to create safe and supportive environments for students and educators. The site serves as a one-stop access point for information, resources, and guidance for school safety from the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse, an interagency effort among the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Justice.

This announcement comes nearly two years after the enactment of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which codified and expanded the Clearinghouse and directed the establishment of this advisory board. The board will be chaired by Ronn Nozoe, CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

‘Unprecedented Collaboration’

“What makes this initiative truly special is the unprecedented collaboration between federal agencies, school safety and violence prevention experts, and the inclusion of voices from the frontlines of education—school leaders, educators, and students,” said Nozoe. “By bringing together this diverse group of stakeholders, we’re creating a powerful team that will drive real, positive change in school safety. This is how we make a lasting difference—by working together and ensuring that those most affected by these issues have a seat at the table.”

“Students and educators deserve safe environments that are free from fear,” said DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “This board will help schools and communities create safe learning spaces amid a diverse and ever-changing threat landscape.”

The inaugural members of the board are:

• Ronn Nozoe, CEO, National Association of Secondary School Principals (Chair);
• Kevin Armstrong, President-elect, National Association of Elementary School Principals;
• Tami Benton, President, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry;
• Shani Buggs, Assistant Professor, University of California Davis Violence Prevention Research Program, and Founder, The Black and Brown Collective;
• Mo Canady, Executive Director, National Association of School Resource Officers;
• Noel Candelaria, Secretary-Treasurer, National Education Association;
• Jennifer DePaoli, Senior Researcher, Learning Policy Institute;
• Michele Gay, Founder and Executive Director, Safe and Sound Schools;
• Seth Gerson, Program Director, K-12 Education, National Governors Association;
• Alison Grodzinski, Managing Director, National Center for School Safety;
• Christine Harms, Director, Colorado Office of School Safety;
• Nicole Hockley, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sandy Hook Promise;
• Devon Horton, Superintendent, DeKalb County School District, Georgia;
• Yvonne Johnson, President, National Parent Teacher Association;
• Brent Jones, Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools, Washington;
• Liz King, Senior Program Director, Education Equity, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights;
• Keith Krueger, Chief Executive Officer, Consortium for School Networking;
• Tim Lutz, Superintendent, Red Lake School District, Minnesota;
• Chad Marlow, Senior Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union;
• Donna Michaelis, Director, Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety;
• Tony Montalto, President, Stand With Parkland;
• David Osher, Vice President and Institute Fellow, American Institutes for Research;
• Melissa Reeves, Past President, National Association of School Psychologists;
• Marlene Sallo, Executive Director, National Disability Rights Network;
• David Schuler, Executive Director, The School Superintendents Association; and
• Debra Wilson, President, National Association of Independent Schools.

The board is administered by CISA on behalf of the DHS secretary. It will convene in fall 2024 for its first meeting.

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