PULLMAN, Wash.–The 75th annual A. A. Cleveland Conference, sponsored by the Washington State University College of Education, will focus on violence in schools and policies to improve school safety, announced conference co-chair and attorney Karen Michaelis, assistant professor of educational leadership. The conference will be held July 9-10 on the Pullman campus.
“Whenever school administrators gather these days, violence in the schools is a hot discussion topic,” Michaelis said. “We are responding to that interest, and hoping to provide concrete examples of programs and policies that administrators can use in their own districts to create safer schools.”
The first day of the conference will include discussion sessions led by authorities from across the United States focusing on problems and violence issues. The second day will include panels and discussion on successful solutions to issues of violence and school safety.
Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson is slated to deliver the keynote address to open the conference.
Some of the discussion leaders from the first day’s focus on school problems include the following:
–David Rawls, former school superintendent at Moses Lake, and Steve Caires, former assistant principal at Moses Lake, discussing crisis intervention from their experience with the classroom killings there.
–Don Schussler, attorney and 12-year member of the Yakima School Board, discussing sexual harassment.
–David Dagley, educational administration professor from the University of Alabama, discussing dress codes and first amendment issues.
Some of the discussion leaders for the second day’s focus on solutions include:
–Carl Ota, Central Valley School District, discussing his district’s safety activities.
–Bill Miller, Wahluke School District, discussing building security.
–Donna Stockman, Moses Lake School District, discussing their truancy board.
–Mary Waggoner, Snohomish School District, discussing media relations during a crisis situation.
–George Murdock, Pasco School District, discussing gangs and dress code policies.
–Art Lysne, VRI Empire Employee Assistance, discussing employee counseling in the aftermath of a crisis.
Educators interested in attending the conference should contact Lynn Buckley at the WSU Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling Psychology, 509/335-9117.
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