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Training Opportunities

Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy

The Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE’s) Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy (ISSSA) provides ongoing, certified training and information on national and state best practices, high-quality resources for school safety, security, intervention/prevention, and emergency preparedness planning. School safety specialists are trained to lead the development and implementation of school safety practices to ensure safe educational environments are provided for all students in Indiana.

Basic Training

Registration for IDOE’s next school safety specialist basic training (group 26) for the 2024-2025 school year will open this summer. This training consists of three days of in-person training (i.e., two days in fall, one day in spring). Registration forms will be shared on this webpage once available.

Advanced Training

Thank you to those who attended IDOE's ISSSA Spring 2024 Advanced Training on Monday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 2. Participants can access their Professional Growth Plan (PGP) point certificate of completion below. Certificates are disaggregated by last name: Registration for our IDOE’s ISSSA spring 2024 advanced training is now open.

Professional Development Opportunities

Register here for the following May professional development opportunities from ISSSA:

Tuesday, May 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. ET

"Digital Harm-A Persistent Vulnerability For School Safety 2024" Presented by Dr. Michelle Drouin, Professor of Psychology and Senior Research Scientist

Description: School safety was once focused primarily on emergency preparedness, physical security, and protecting students from physical and verbal harm within the school’s walls. Our current world is much different—digital technologies have introduced potential threats that have no physical boundaries, threats that can reach students 24/7 and even in their own homes. Consequently, as more and more youth use digital devices, rates of mobile phone addiction, online harassment, cyberbullying, revenge porn, and sexual coercion have skyrocketed.

Moreover, youth are reporting significant mental health and wellness issues stemming from their online media use. How can we foster appropriate and safe digital technology use among our students and help them develop resiliency to these digital threats? And, more importantly, how can we communicate to families the risks of digital harm? Attendees will receive foundational knowledge on the risks of digital harm, with the goal of helping them devise marketing and educational plans for introducing the topics of digital safety and social media responsibility to the youth and families within their schools. Additionally, as there are many legal issues involving technology use that school corporations need to be aware of, including liability and privacy concerns, attendees will work in small groups to develop frameworks for proactive policies related to common digital harm scenarios.

Monday, May 20, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET

"High In Plain Sight: Drug Trends And Identification" Presented by Jermaine Galloway, the Tall Cop Says Stop

Description: At 6 feet 9 inches tall, Officer Jermaine Galloway looks like an intimidating presence, but he is devoted and passionate about education, training, and enforcement when it comes to alcohol and drug use and abuse prevention. Officer Galloway is a nationally and internationally recognized instructor and is well known for his countless hours of research on alcohol and drug trends. Officer Jermaine Galloway has been an Idaho law enforcement officer since 1997 and has more than 14 years of experience in underage drinking, drug and alcohol enforcement. Officer Galloway has worked several different assignments, including: crime scene investigation (CSI), DUI task force, officer mentoring, and as a field training officer. Jermaine has coordinated and led thousands of alcohol related initiatives. Jermaine is also an Idaho POST certified instructor in alcohol beverage laws, drug identification, community policing and hate & bias crimes. He currently provides training nationwide to educators and law enforcement on alcohol and drug trends, drug identifiers, drug clothing, party patrols, party drugs, Fake ID's, drug concealment, alcohol and energy drinks, drug logos, synthetic drugs, drug concentrates, non-traditional ways of alcohol consumption, cough medicine abuse, alcohol laws, drug stash compartments, popular culture music, and other community based alcohol and drug initiatives.

Topics to Be Covered Include:

  • Drug trends amongst youth, including local trends based on sales/availability
  • Drug concentrates and designer drug use
  • Prevalence and identification of e-devices
  • Drug clothing and identifiers
  • Popular culture impact on drug trends

Contact IDOE's Senior School Safety Specialist, Ryan Stewart, with any questions regarding ISSSA training opportunities.