Second annual Regional Security Summit strengthens school leaders’ readiness and response strategies

A group of police officers are seated at a conference room table. One is speaking On Aug. 24, Capital Region BOCES’ Management Services and NERIC divisions co-hosted the second annual Regional School Security Summit, a full-day professional learning event focused on enhancing school safety through prevention, preparedness and collaboration. Hosted in partnership with the City School District of Albany, the summit was a great success, bringing together school district administrators, technology and facilities leaders, school resource officers and school safety personnel.

A centerpiece of the event was a keynote presentation by Jillian Haring, a nationally recognized expert in Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM). During her session, “When Every Threat Isn’t a Threat: Helping Schools Separate Fact from Fear,” Haring shared practical strategies for identifying warning behaviors, understanding context and making informed decisions when responding to concerning student behavior. Participants explored common misconceptions about threat assessment and learned how prevention-focused practices can support both school safety and student well-being.

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Throughout the day, attendees participated in sessions designed to provide actionable tools and resources for addressing today’s school safety challenges. NERIC’s Mike Sylofsky and Michelle Chenk presented on new and emerging technologies related to school safety, highlighting innovations that can help districts strengthen security and communication efforts. In addition, experts from Capital Region BOCES and the City School District of Albany led a session on threat assessments, confidentiality and legal compliance, offering guidance on balancing student support with regulatory requirements.

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One of the day’s most interactive experiences was a reunification simulation facilitated by Micki Jones and the Health, Safety and Risk team. Participants worked through a realistic emergency scenario using the Standard Reunification Method, giving school leaders an opportunity to test plans, identify potential challenges and better understand the steps involved in reuniting students with families during an emergency. The hands-on exercise reinforced the importance of practicing emergency protocols before they are needed.

A man is standing in front of a conference room speaking The summit concluded with a keynote presentation from New York State Education Department representative Mike Bennett and closing remarks that emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among educators, school safety professionals and community partners. Attendees left with practical strategies, new perspectives and strengthened connections to support safer learning environments for students and staff throughout the region.

The Regional School Security Summit is part of Capital Region BOCES’ ongoing commitment to providing schools with high-quality professional learning opportunities that address emerging issues and support student success.

About Jillian Haring

Jillian Haring is a nationally recognized expert in Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM), with more than 20 years of experience helping K–12 school systems strengthen student safety through proactive, prevention-focused practices. Throughout her career, she has partnered with schools to create safer, more supportive learning environments, equipping educators with the knowledge and tools needed to identify concerns early, intervene effectively, and foster a culture of care, connection, and collaboration. Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy, Jillian supported post-incident analysis and implementation efforts focused on translating lessons learned into sustainable prevention strategies. Since then, she has worked with more than 50 school districts across the country and trained more than 5,000 education and law enforcement professionals. Her work places an emphasis on helping school administrators understand their critical role in early identification, documentation, information sharing and coordinated response, ensuring BTAM is embedded into daily school leadership practice.