Enhancing School Safety and Security: Federal Resources to Protect the K-12 Community
In today’s environment, K-12 schools face an evolving and dynamic set of security risks and threats, ranging from acts of targeted violence to bomb threats to natural disasters. Enhancing school safety and security requires a community-based, comprehensive, and holistic approach, in which a wide range of school community members play a role. Join representatives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA’s) School Safety Task Force, Office of Bombing Prevention, and Office of Security Programs for a panel focused on research-informed strategies, guidance, and tools that K-12 leaders can use to enhance safe and supportive learning environments.
CISA recognizes that each school is unique and contends with an individual set of safety needs and challenges. This panel will share evidence-based practices, resources, and guidance available from CISA on a range of school safety topics and threats, including de-escalation, bombing prevention and active shooter preparedness. Members of the security industry will learn about tools to prioritize school safety actions, find applicable resources, connect with state-specific and local school safety officials, and develop school safety plans tailored to their specific circumstances.
Date
- May 20 2025
Time
- 9:45 am - 10:30 am
Location
Other Locations
- 1201 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Speakers
-
Hough, DonDeputy Associate Director, School Safety Task Force, CISADon Hough serves as the deputy associate director for the School Safety Task Force at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The School Safety Task Force was established to support the federal government’s efforts in strengthening the safety and security of K-12 schools across the country. In this role, Hough enhances the safety and security of the nationwide K-12 school community by leading the DHS team responsible for building the capacity of K-12 schools and districts to protect against, and mitigate, security threats and risks, and manages the implementation efforts of the Luke and Alex School Safety Act. In addition, Hough has supported the design and development of SchoolSafety.gov, administered the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse, launched multiple flagship resources such as the CISA K-12 School Security Guide Product Suite and the CISA-United States Secret Service Bystander Reporting Toolkit and directed the National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security.
-
Settles, PaigeProgram Manager, Partnership, Policy and Engagement (A), School Safety Task Force, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security AgencyPaige Settles serves as the program manager for partnership, policy and engagement (A) for the School Safety Task Force at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The School Safety Task Force was established to support the federal government’s efforts in strengthening the safety and security of kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools across the country. In this role, Settles has contributed to the advancement of the School Safety Task Force mission by supporting the creation and implementation of the inaugural National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security, aided in the design and development of the K-12 School Security Guide Product Suite and managed the SchoolSafety.gov State Information Sharing Tool along with associated state partnerships. In addition, she is currently overseeing the implementation of the Luke and Alex School Safety Act and assisting with the establishment of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board. Settles holds a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University.
-
Tilley, CurtisBranch Chief, Office for Bombing Prevention, Infrastructure Security Division, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security AgencyMr. Curtis Tilley currently serves as the Branch Chief for the Training Branch, Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Infrastructure Security Division (ISD). In this role, Mr. Tilley exercises management and oversight of OBP’s training and awareness programs aimed at building capacity within the general public and across the public and private sectors to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate bombing incidents. Mr. Tilley is also a veteran of the United States Army, having served with the 18th Airborne Corp during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He possesses Advanced Degrees from Marshall University and is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He is married to his wife Deanna and has five daughters.
-
Avondoglio, DanPortfolio Manager, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security AgencyDan Avondoglio currently serves as portfolio manager for active assailant security within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). He is a member of the Private Sector Preparedness National Advisory Council and, formerly, a regular contributor to the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Among others, Avondoglio maintains credentials in Advanced Counterterrorism, Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management and Security Planning. He leads a team of dedicated civil servants to deliver targeted violence prevention information and preparedness resources in an effort to safeguard the American people. Avondoglio is also a decorated Navy combat veteran with nearly 25 years of service, currently serving as a commanding officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
