蜜桃视频

School safety and security have surged to the top of the list of key issues confronting today’s K-12 educators nationwide.

To address these challenges, the Albion Center for Professional Development at 蜜桃视频, in partnership with the National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD), will be launching Foundations of School Security Leadership (FoSSL) courses. The 100% online, self-paced professional development FoSSL courses are designed to provide K–12 educators and administrators with essential training and knowledge in school safety and security. The goal is to positively transform both the educational environment and the sense of safety within schools for years to come.

FoSSL was developed through a collaborative effort between the 蜜桃视频 Office of School Safety and Security (OSSSP), under the 蜜桃视频 State Board of Education, and the NCSSD, a national nonprofit professional association of school security professionals. The development team consists of skilled school safety and security professionals from both organizations, many with advanced postgraduate degrees in a number of education-related disciplines. 

Leading the FoSSL initiative is Guy Bliesner, an ISU alum and a former high school teacher and coach with over 30 years of experience in K-12 education. Over half of Bliesner’s career has been dedicated to leadership roles in 蜜桃视频’s school safety and security efforts. Currently, he serves as the School Safety and Security Analyst for schools in southeast 蜜桃视频 and a board member for the NCSSD. Throughout his career, Bliesner has conducted hundreds of school site assessments and notably implemented 蜜桃视频’s first statewide school safety and security condition assessment, which is updated every three years.

Bliesner stresses that the climate and culture of a school are the foundation to development and maintenance of a safe and secure educational environment. This includes training, preparing, and implementing common security response plans school-wide, to ensure teachers, administrators, students, and parents are well informed.  

“This course marks an impressive completion of school security knowledge developed by the people who are actively working in security at the school level. It represents truly implementable effective school security practice,” said Bliesner 

Course content is built on documented research and widely accepted best practices in school security. Course delivery utilizes the expertise and experience of accomplished NCSSD members to address the foundational elements of effective school security based on ZeroNow’s Path to Safer Schools, including the following:

• The role of school security leadership
• Educational context for security application
• The role of culture and climate in school security
• Development and use of a district/school safety committee
• Risk, threat, and vulnerability assessment in schools
• Physical security in schools; systems and equipment
• Physical security in schools; people and processes
• School emergency management; planning, implementation, training, and application
• Developing buy-in; advocacy, acceptance, and funding

FoSSL is designed for both K–12 educators stepping into security leadership roles and law enforcement professionals transitioning into educational settings, including School Resource Officers (SRO’s). The intent is to develop a common understanding and vocabulary for effective school security practices.

FoSSL courses will consist of two 3-credit sections, totaling 6 graduate-level credits. The first section is expected to be available in October 2025, with the second section following shortly after. Each course is designed to provide 45 hours of learning. The partnership with NCSSD and SSSP and the Albion Center is expected to grow in the foreseeable future, expanding course options with course content being continually updated.

“The Albion Center is committed to delivering practical, research-based professional development,” said Gabriel Rodriguez, managing director. “Through our partnership with NCSSD, these courses give educators the tools and confidence to build safer learning environments for every student.”

Bliesner added, “This course will be valuable and should be taken by anyone involved in the effort to make schools safer and more secure.” 

The Albion Center currently charges $55 per credit with no extra fees. New enrollees can begin immediately and are not required to apply or be admitted to ISU. Upon signing up, students will receive a free $200 initial credit to use toward Albion Center courses, such as FoSSL. 

Educators can request a free official transcript from ISU upon course completion. Additionally a course completion certificate is available from the NCSSD. Courses through the Albion Center are transcribed as non-degree, graduate-level credentials with the purpose of helping K-12 educators nationwide grow professionally, renew teaching certification, and pursue salary advancement. More information about the Albion Center for Professional Development can be found at isu.edu/albion.