2009 Pennsylvania Safe Schools Conference to Feature National Experts May 4-6, 2009

2009 Pennsylvania Safe Schools Conference to Feature National Experts May 4-6,
2009

Keeping Our Children Safe: Strategies for Schools and Communities

CAMP HILL, Pa., May 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Center for Safe Schools
today announced that prominent experts on school safety and school violence
prevention will gather in Harrisburg for the 12th annual Safe Schools
Conference sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and
co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Commission on
Crime and Delinquency.

The conference will bring together more than 800 teachers, school officials,
law enforcement personnel, researchers and community members to hear national
experts and educational leaders present the latest research findings and
information about effective program models and practices in school safety and
violence prevention.

Topics to be addressed include emergency planning and preparedness, bullying
prevention, threat assessment, school building security, Internet safety,
collaborating with law enforcement and an update on statewide school safety
initiatives.

"For nearly two decades, the Center for Safe Schools, in partnership with
Pennsylvania Department of Education, has been seeking creative and effective
solutions to problems that disrupt the educational process and affect school
safety," said Lynn M. Cromley, director of the Center for Safe Schools. "We
hope that educators will leave the conference with a renewed commitment to
creating safe and successful school environments where our youth can grow into
inspired, productive and fulfilled learners."

The three-day conference at the Hilton Harrisburg is full and has a waiting
list. Some highlights of this year's conference include:

* "Responding to Student Threats of Violence," workshop session with Dewey
Cornell, forensic psychologist for Curry School of Education, University of
Virginia, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday.

* "Internet Safety: Protecting Kids Online," session for sworn law enforcement
officers with Charles Balogh, detective from Luzerne County District
Attorney's Office, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday.

* Jane Bluestein, Ph.D., an internationally recognized author, educator and
expert on children in crisis will present the keynote address at 8:15 a.m. on
Tuesday.

* "Bullying and Harassment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning
Kids," workshop session with Louis Marven of LBGT Community Center Coalition,
2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

* "Assessing Readiness in School Violence Prevention Programs," workshop
session with Michelle Nutter, lead coordinator from Center for Safe Schools,
2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

* "Safe School Initiative and Bystander Studies," general session presenting
significant findings from operational analysis of school-based attacks
compiled by U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Department of Education, 8:30 a.m. to
12 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Center for Safe Schools is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education,
U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and National Crime
Prevention Council as one of 21 Statewide School Safety Centers in the nation.
The Center serves as a statewide clearinghouse for educators, parents, law
enforcement and others on school safety and youth violence prevention. Through
expert staff, as well as access to a network of state and national researchers
and practitioners, the Center provides state-of-the-art professional
development and technical assistance to schools throughout the Commonwealth.
For more information, go to http://www.safeschools.info/

Editors: Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend. Hilton Harrisburg
is located at 1 North Second Street in Harrisburg, Pa.

For more information, to schedule interviews or for a complete schedule of
events, contact: Aylissa Kiely Tyndale (717) 763-1661 x 117 or
akiely.tyndale@csc.csiu.org.

SOURCE Center for Safe Schools

Aylissa Kiely Tyndale of Center for Safe Schools, +1-717-763-1661 ext. 117
(w), +1-717-903-0219 (c), akiely.tyndale@csc.csiu.org