NDE School Safety & Security Table of Contents
Get the Quick Link to the School Safety Webpage Topic Needed in the Table of Contents Below
The 2025 School Safety & Security Award could go to you, your school, or organization. Get someone to get your nomination in today! It could be you who is recognized at the School Safety Summit on October 16th, at the Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA) building in Lincoln. More information can also be found on our Award webpage.
New the NDE, School Safety & Security Challenge Coin is here and will be handed out to all nominees for the School Safety & Security Award! They may also be handed out for other reasons as determined by the School Safety & Security Team. It will be an elite membership coin for those who are doing exemplary work in school safety. If you have not heard of a challenge coin before, here is a basic background of their purpose: Challenge coins are small, medallion-like tokens that symbolize membership, achievement, or affiliation with a specific group. They can also represent recognition for exemplary service, participation, or even a simple thank you for support.
- Symbol of Belonging: Challenge coins serve as a tangible reminder of one’s membership in a unit or organization, fostering a sense of camaraderie and belonging.
- Recognition for Achievement: They can be awarded to individuals for outstanding performance, dedication, or exceptional service, acting as a symbol of appreciation from peers and superiors.
- Commemorative Tokens: Challenge coins may be designed to mark specific events, anniversaries, or achievements of an organization or unit.
- Tradition of Challenges: A common practice involves individuals “challenging” each other to display their coins, with a specific protocol dictating who pays for a drink or meal if someone fails to produce their coin.
Get Basic Threat Assessment Training June 26-27 Via Zoom
The last FREE Basic Threat Assessment Training of 2025 with Dr. Bulling & Dr. Scalora at the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center. If you have a Safe2Help NE team or new team member please get signed up ASAP.
There is a registration link on the flier and if you need paid for attendance there is a scholarship request form for that as well.
This training is a requirement of Safe2Help NE Threat Assessment Team members.
The NDE School Safety, Mental Health and Whole Child Teams were represented at the Mental Health Conference at the end of May. The Safety Team spent time at the NDE table distributing materials from all the groups.
They all had presentations to during the two-day event. Contractors Kim Jacobson and Sally Carlson had about 30 attendee’s taking residence on the floor due to all the chairs being taken during their breakout session on Empowering Staff to Regulate Escalating Student Behavior. It was a great time in Kearney with lots of great information shared by all!
School Safety & Security Newsletter
Sign up list for the Newsletter Email. Once you sign up receive the quarterly updates in Nebraska School Safety and Security News. Keep up with the changes and new opportunities revealed every few months. Also catch up with what you may have missed in prior Newsletters.
Congratulations to the schools who were notified Friday April 4th, 2025, after the State Board approved the School Emergency Mapping Grant Awardee’s. More details will be delivered to these schools on how and when to get started with their project. For questions, contact ellen.d’amore@nebraska.gov or jay.martin@nebraska.gov.
Reunification Exercises:
Ainsworth – North Platte – Wahoo
The three area schools conducted mock scenarios of reuniting students with parents after an incident at their schools. The I Love U Guys Foundation led the training allowing the school personnel and first responders in attendance to play different roles to see what a reunification will look like in a controlled environment. This practice will aid in keeping their school communities safe and secure if an incident ever does happen.
Mike Donahue Founder of Value-Up
The three things that can change the path of a potential incident in a school are having a Threat Assessment Team, Anonymous Report Services, and a Students Connection to an adult in school. Dr. Scalora and Dr. Bulling have been conducting the Basic Threat Assessment Trainings for schools. Safe2Help NE is the free anonymous report line available to schools utilizing the Boys Town’s call center licensed crisis counselors who are available 24/7 to take reports from students, parents and community members. Now with the Stronger Connections Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (SCTAC) three-year Grant NDE is able to bring Value-Up and Mike Donahue, the founder of the program, to schools across Nebraska. NDE will focus on ESU #13 schools this year.
Mike Donahue is a nationally known speaker living here in Nebraska who has a unique ability to create the connections and relationships between children and adults. After over three decades of working with youth, Mike has come to understand that so many teen issues are directly related to how students view themselves. If a student believes they have high intrinsic value and identify with that high value, they will make life choices that match their perceived value. If you would like to have Value-Up brought to your community or to learn more reach out on Value-Up.
On page 6 of the NCSA Today NDE, School Safety & Security Director Jay Martin was interviewed about all the School Safety Teams workload and the duties across the State that come with this position. Learn more from the NCSA article.
September 22, 2025 (8:00am to 5:00 pm MT) in Gordon, NE will be the 2025 Western Nebraska Mental Health Conference. For additional information click on the image or email mentalhealthconfernce@esu13.org. Registration is available on the PanhandlePartnership.com.
Put Them on School Buildings & Digital Platforms
in Recognition to
Place School Safety First
Administrator Days 2025 – Kearney
School Safety Doesn’t Happen by Accident Part 1
Building Staff Capacity for Managing Dysregulated Student Behavior
- Wednesday July 23, 2025 (9:45 to 10:30 am CT)
Jay Martin NDE School Safety Director, Sally Carlson and Kim Jacobson, Independent Contractors with NDE School Safety and Security
Building Staff Capacity for Dealing With Escalating Student Behavior: School administrators recognize that learning de-escalation strategies is a critically important skill for educators to calm down situations and avert behaviors that can threaten the safety and well-being of students and staff. Recent Nebraska legislation tasks schools with added accountability for having policies in place for equipping staff to manage behaviors as per LB 70-262.01. This session prepares administrators with tools for training and educating staff to recognize and prevent escalating behaviors, so they are confident and ready to proactively manage behavioral concerns in the school environment.
School Safety Doesn’t Happen by Accident Part 2 – Silver 8
- Thursday July 24, 2025 (3:45 to 4:45 CT)
Jay Martin – Nebraska Department of Education
If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow. What new legislation will impact school safety this year? Are there new grant or funding opportunities? What new school safety resources are available or coming to districts? Let’s have an open dialogue on what is needed in Nebraska schools to provide local communities with the feeling that schools are safe and secure environments. Let’s discuss what it takes to “place school safety first!”
Supporting Young Minds – Strategies for Behavioral & Mental Health Wellness put on by the Nebraska Juvenile Justice Association (NJJA)
Wednesday July 30, 2025, in Columbus, NE FEMA Room 4321 41st Ave
NDE, School Safety & Security Director Jay Martin will be speaking twice during this conference.
- Look Up to Gain Digital Platform Health, Safety & Wisdom Presentation (8:45 to 9:45 CT)
- Medical Marijuana’s Impact on Mental Health, Schools, & Communities
Presentation (11:05am – 12:05 pm CT)
Look Up to Gain to Gain Digital Health, Safety, and Wisdom – Student and Parent presentations in McCook, NE.
August 18 7:00 to 8:15 Parent Presentation at McCook High School
August 19th two presentations at 9 and 10:15 with McCook High School Students.
Look Up to Gain Digital Health, Safety, & Wisdom Student/Parent presentations at Centennial Public Schools
September 8, 2025
Middle School at 8:45-9:45 CT
High School 9:55-10:55 CT
Kearney Public Schools Digital and Substance Use Presentations at 2 Kearney Middle Schools and KHS. Also, a parent presentation.
September 17, 2025 Time TBD
Look Up to Gain Digital Wisdom
September 18, 2025 St. Mary’s High in O’Neill, NE
Western School Health Conference – Gordon, Nebraska
September 22, 2025 (9:00-2:45 MT)
Keynote presentation on digitally media’s impact on mental health. A breakout session on medical marijuana/high potency THC’s impact on schools and mental health. Panel discussion with students on school safety from their perspective. Parent Digital Wisdom presentation in the evening. Register at PanhandlePartnership.com.
Look Up to Gain Digital Wisdom
September 24, 2025 (1:00-7:00 CT)
Middle and High School Students, Staff & Parent Presentations at Gothenburg Public Schools at 1:00. Learn how to become digitally wise with devices and social media platforms.
After School Conference in Kearney, NE
September 26, 2025 (TBA)
More to come…
Look Up to Gain Digital Wisdom
October 1, 2025 (1:15-3:15 CT)
Middle and High School Student Presentations at Southern Public Schools at 1:15. Learn how to become digitally wise with devices and social media platforms.
Presentation #1:
Location: Southern Elementary School, 315 West 2nd Street, Blue Springs, NE 68318
Timeframe: 1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Grades: 4-6 (Around 75 Students)
Presentation #2:
Location: Southern Jr./Sr. High School, 115 South 11th Street ,Wymore, NE 68466
Timeframe: 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Grades: 7-12 (Around 175 Students)
Nebraska School Safety Summit October 16th at 9 to noon CT.
It will be Hybrid with only 50 in person participants remaining will need to be online. Location of the event at the NCSA building on 13th in Lincoln. Sign up is coming soon. We will announce the 2025 School Safety Award Winner at the conference.
Northeast Family Violence Summit
Northeast Community College Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E Benjamin Ave, Norfolk, NE
NE School Safety Director Jay Martin will be speaking twice:
October 17, 2025
- 8:15 Digital Health, Safety, & Wisdom Will Improve Family Well-Being
- 1:15 Truth Behind Substance Use and Family Violence
Other Event & Training Opportunities
NCSA Events
Guidance - Resources - Posters
988 is the dialing code of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline effort, organized at the state level to meet the growing need for crisis intervention and saving lives.
Several resources are available to schools wanting more information or to register for Safe2Help NE. These include the following:
If there are additional questions about Safe2Help NE services, please contact jay.martin@nebraska.gov.
This series of 16 posters for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is perfect for printing, or for use on the web or in emails.
The “Reach Out For Help” poster describes where to get “Help for Others” (Safe2Help Nebraska), “Help for Self” (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and “Immediate Help” (911).
Substance Use Awareness
MORE INFO TO COME…
Relationships
MORE INFO TO COME…
