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Security Assessor Training Program

Each year, our nation’s schools are entrusted to provide a safe environment for approximately 55 million elementary and secondary school students in public, private, parochial and independent schools. Families and communities expect schools to keep their children safe from threats - no task is more important than creating a secure learning environment for America’s youth.

A proven and effective way to enhance security in schools is to conduct a comprehensive vulnerability assessment. These assessments provide an all-inclusive approach to analyzing a school’s climate, physical security, communications systems, and overall preparedness. A vulnerability assessment highlights and reinforces what a school is doing right to keep students and staff safe, and highlights potential areas requiring improvement.

The NRA School Shield’s Security Assessor Training seeks to facilitate a partnership between schools and local stakeholders in a shared commitment to more secure schools. At the conclusion of our training, participants will be adequately primed to conduct standardized school vulnerability assessments and assist schools in recognizing strengths as well as potential vulnerabilities.

 1 in 6 Americans sets foot in our public schools each day [1]

34% of parents fear for their child’s physical safety at school [2]

Based on a 2014-2015 school safety survey, only 24% of respondents had conducted a school safety assessment [3]

"It's Actually Pretty Simple: The Side with the Best Plan Wins."

After years of working at the upper-most levels of law enforcement, Wayne started his own security company that quickly concentrated his expertise on school security.

One of the Instructors Who Teaches Others What to Look For.

The NRA School Shield teaches law enforcement and school staff to do comprehensive vulnerability assessments where they're looking at the whole picture. Not just active shooter scenarios.

Better School Security—Without Frightening Parents.

"I thought there would be some pushback [from the parents] but there really wasn't. They were grateful because we're all aware that we need to address these things and we need to partner with our local law enforcement."

Learn What the Person Who's in Charge of Finding Innovative Training Programs for Police Officers Thinks of NRA School Shield.

"I want people to know is this is a tool for us to use in law enforcement to protect our children. It's not going to fix all the problems. It's not going to solve all the issues that we face. But it is simply another tool that we can take to make things better."

Richard Vona, Director of Law Enforcement Training, Bucks County, PA

A Superintendent's Honest Reaction to the Ohio Attorney General's Recommendation to Consider NRA School Shield.

"Initially, I was like, no way. But then, once I heard more about the program, I was like, 'we can't not do this. We have to move forward with this.'"

Karen Boch, Superintendent, Wellston City Schools

A Fireman's Impressions of the NRA School Shield Program.

"I can't overstate how important this program is. If you truly want to be a good firefighter, police officer, educator, administrator, you need this background."

Roman Brandau, Assistant Chief, Wellston Fire Department

A Career LEO—and Parent of School Children—Details His Experience with NRA School Shield.

"The NRA is taking action and doing something. It made our school safer, there's no doubt in my mind about that."

John Robinson, Acting Chief of Police, Wellston Police Department

"School Shield is a multi-faceted program. It does not just focus on guns, or arming teachers, or school shooters. It focuses on school safety."

It's top down approach to school safety. Our officers spent a week at our school looking at anything that could endanger children in that school.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this training, participants should be able to: 

  •   Understand the role and responsibilities of a school security assessor
  •   Understand the difference between threat, vulnerability and risk assessments
  •   Identify potential threats and common vulnerabilities in the school environment
  •   Conduct a school vulnerability assessment based on industry best practices
  •   Discuss advantages of security personnel and SROs in the school environment
  •   Identify and communicate emerging best practices in school security

 

Training Topics

Featuring classroom instruction, tabletop exercises and hands-on opportunities, participants will benefit from a week of specialized training, networking and practical exercises at a local K-12 school. Training topics include:

  • The Role of the Assessor
  • Types of Assessments
  • Defining Potential Threats
  • The Assessment Process
  • Conducting the Assessment
  • Physical Security Components
  • Physical Security Components
  • Security Personnel and SROs
  • Emergency Response Protocols
  • Incident Management
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Pre/Post School Assessment Dialogue/Review

 

Request To Host Training

Using a curriculum carefully constructed with oversight from experts in homeland security, law enforcement training and school security, this 5-day course is designed to better prepare designated security officials to serve as school security assessors and assist in conducting school vulnerability assessments on behalf of their respective agency. Law Enforcement agencies looking to support the NRA School Shield® program should email to request to host a training in your area.

Request to Host Training

Please submit your request to [email protected].

Request More Information

Help bring this vital training to your community. For immediate assistance, please contact NRA School Shield at 844-467-7723 or [email protected]. Download our guide to share with local officials to encourage them to take advance of this free training.

Download the Guide

“Attending the NRA School Shield training gave me a new skill which I can use to help my community protect our children. By learning how to spot vulnerabilities, I can help all stakeholders in the safety of our children do our best to protect them. The training not only reminded me of things I had previously learned, but it gave me new resources that I can employ in assessments of any school facility.””

—Attendee from Florida

“This program combines best practices in education, safety and preparedness. The effectiveness of the materials and the goal of providing local resources at minimal cost will set the standard for school safety programs. The use of best practices will serve to enhance the safety of schools across the country.”

—Attendee from South Dakota

“The design of the course and the practical exercise was helpful in creating a consistent method of assessing schools. It provided great detail in the ways to organize an assessment that also included how to construct and present feedback to the school.”

—Attendee from Tennessee

“This training was relevant and timely. By the second day, we knew this was a good decision. Our schools and students will definitely be safer.”

—Attendee from North Carolina

“Awesome training. You don’t know what you don’t know. This training opened my eyes and allowed me to view school security on a different level.”

—Attendee from Michigan

“Gave me a new way of looking at my school. More of a broad concept of security, not just active shooter type threats.”

—Attendee from Montana

“I will never look at a school the same as [I did] before this training.”

—Attendee from Pennsylvania

“After twenty years of working on campuses as a School Resource Officer, [this is] the most comprehensive training [I've] ever attended.”

—Attendee from Tennessee

“Good training in a much needed subject. Glad to see the NRA taking a lead role in keeping our children safe and responding to a national need.”

—Attendee from Idaho

“Amazing class. Information learned provides another opportunity for positive interaction with the schools, students, staff and parents.”

—Attendee from Kansas

“The overall training was outstanding. There isn't a valid reason that I can think of that every school should not have advantage of this invaluable tool.”

—Attendee from Tennessee

“I liked that [the training] prepared me for a way to present materials to schools in a way they will be receptive [toward].”

—Attendee from Washington

“Course was extremely informational. Many things mentioned and performed were never considered by myself. [This training] helped me look at school and educational facilities from a different point of view. The instructors were hands on and very helpful in helping us gain confidence to assess properties.”

—Attendee from Pennsylvania

“The training really opened my eyes to the issues that I have at my school.”

—Attendee from Virginia

“This [training] will give me the skills needed to adequately provide assessments to schools in my area in a more accurate and professional way. Schools have asked for help, but before attending this course, I was not able to provide them a well-structured response (i.e. Assessment).”

—Attendee from Idaho

“[The training] is real world useful. We will be able to legitimately make the schools safer almost immediately.”

—Attendee from Oregon

“[The training gave me] the ability to assist schools in conducting vulnerability assessments in a formal process.”

—Attendee from Alaska

“[I liked] being able to see how a different school district, from my own, operates and plans for emergency situations.”

—Attendee from Texas

Want to Know More 

Contact us at 844-467-7723 or email [email protected] for more information.

National School Shield

Announced in December 2012, the NRA School Shield program is focused on improving school security in an effort to help prevent national tragedies at educational institutions in America.

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