The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Maine School Safety Center’s (MSSC) free training for the School Safety Specialist Program is open to schools and school administrative units (SAUs). The School Safety Specialist (SSS) Program helps schools and districts fulfill the requirements of Public Law 2023, chapter 254, to have a designated employee having oversight regarding school safety.
School Safety Specialist (SSS) Program prepares participants to:
- Support and assist administrators in coordinating the review, editing, and updating of Emergency Operations Plans for their district and/or school building each year.
- Involve appropriate stakeholders in the development of district/school- level emergency operations planning through the formation of a safety team to include the following: police and fire departments, emergency management agency, emergency medical services (EMS), local medical facilities, community members, administrators, parents, and students.
- Network with appropriate stakeholders to enhance school safety at the SAU and school level.
- Act as a resource for other individuals in the SAU on issues related to school safety.
- Work with the Maine School Safety Center to provide professional development for faculty and staff on school safety-related issues that encourage a safe school environment.
The details of the program:
- Cohorts start at the beginning of every other month and have 6 weeks to complete. The first cohort of this school year begins in October.
- All work is done asynchronously and takes approximately 20-25 hours to complete.
- Work is divided into badges. Each badge is earned when participants review interactive modules and complete a quiz and reflection questions. Incident Command System (ICS) courses are included in the SSS coursework and are accessed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.
Benefits of participation:
- Become a safety leader in your school.
- Earn digital badges and contact hours for recertification.
- Become a partner with the Maine School Safety Center
- Join a community of practice and network with safety specialists across the state.
If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, fill out the School Safety Specialist interest form.
The Maine School Safety Center has a School Emergency Management Coordinator who can help with resources, training, and guidance on emergency management in schools. The areas include, but are not limited to:
- Emergency Operations Plans
- Emergency Exercises and Drills
- Implementation of Multi-Disciplinary Teams
- Implementation of Safety Teams
For further support or information regarding School Emergency Management, reach out to Maine DOE School Emergency Management Coordinator, Jack Peck Jack.Peck@maine.gov.
For further information about the services offered by the Maine School Safety Center, visit the Maine School Safety Center website.
