Annual School Safety & Security Award
The Annual Nebraska School Safety & Security Award was established in 2024 by the School Safety Committee consisting of personnel partnering together from the Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Council of School Administrators, University of Nebraska Public Policy Center and the Boys Town Call Center – Safe2Help NE. The award is to a person, team, organization, school, first responder(s), or other entity demonstrating their commitment made for school safety. The awardee is “recognized as an engineer in sacrifice for the safety and security of others“. The sacrifice could have been saving the life of a person, it could be the time spent working tirelessly on school safety, or possibly a program or project that enhances school safety and security in a district. There are a number of ways nominees can demonstrate sacrifice in safety.
There is a lot of great work being done in school safety and security across the state and the award was established to recognize the hard work being put forth in school communities and to recognize the one who rose to the top.
The 2025 School Safety & Security Award winner was Bill Jelkin from Millard Public Schools. Bill was very surprised at this year’s safety summit as he had no idea, he was even nominated much less the winner. Bill was humble in accepting the award and said it really should go to all of those people in the school districts across the state who are keeping students and staff safe with their hard work.
CMS Staff receives the First Annual School Safety & Security Award at the School Safety Summit in Kearney on October 17, 2024. The staff responded to a medical emergency on April 19, 2024, during a district music event. They implemented Standard Response Protocol, secured the scene, and took assigned roles. Nurse, Katie Kruse, successfully revived the student prior to emergency responders arriving. The district crisis team was also implemented to support students, staff, and attendees at the event and after. In the days following, CMS staff collaborated with Children’s Hospital to debrief and analyze AED data to better support the impacted student.
The incident demonstrated the importance of safety training, using resources, and follow-up to empower staff during this actual situation to save a life.
The 2026 School Safety & Security Award…get your peer or group nominated! Form will be opening soon!