GEMA/HS hosts 2024 Georgia School Safety & Homeland Security Conference

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education, will be hosting the 2024 Georgia School Safety & Homeland Security Conference on June 3-5, 2024 in Columbus, GA. The Georgia School Safety and Homeland Security Conference is the state’s largest and longest-running conference for school safety and encourages all stakeholders involved in school safety to attend.

The conference will be held at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. Registration is open to teachers, school administration officials, school counselors, school resource officers, public safety personnel, law enforcement, emergency management personnel, and any federal, state, county, local official or association member involved in school safety.

“Our conference will take a holistic look at the most dangerous threats to Georgia’s schools and best practices to protect our state’s most precious resource – our children,” said GEMA/HS Deputy Director for Homeland Security Linda Criblez. “We are thrilled to be welcoming education, public officials, and law enforcement leaders from across the state; safe and prepared schools require an all of community approach.”

The Georgia School Safety and Homeland Security Conference started in 2009 and has since grown to a three-day event with over 700 participants learning from the national level as well as Georgia’s leading education and public safety personnel.

“Educators will have an opportunity to obtain training toward the new School Safety and Anti-Gang Endorsement, and law enforcement will be eligible for POST credit. We will have three full days of subject matter experts teaching topics such as current threats to students, case studies, behavioral threat assessment training, and crisis management,” said Criblez.

There is a $150 registration fee for the entire conference and a $75 day pass option.  The conference will open on June 3, with a professional education day for educators, law enforcement, and emergency managers, and continue with traditional conference programming on June 4-5.  Online registration information for attendees can be found at www.gaschoolsafety.com. For more information about GEMA/HS’s involvement in school safety, visit gema.georgia.gov/what-we-do/school-safety.

In addition to the rich array of educational sessions, the 2024 Georgia School Safety & Homeland Security Conference will provide a platform for vendors to showcase their products and services geared towards enhancing school safety and homeland security measures. Vendors specializing in security systems, emergency response equipment, crisis management solutions, and other relevant products will have the opportunity to exhibit their offerings to conference attendees. Interested vendors can secure a spot at the event by registering for a fee of $750, which grants access to the conference venue and networking opportunities with key stakeholders in the education and public safety sectors. This vendor participation aspect adds another dimension to the conference, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of school safety and homeland security. Visit https://www.homelandsecurityvendors.com/ to register as a vendor.

As part of the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency collaborates with local, state and federal governments in partnership with private sector and non-governmental organizations to protect life and property against man-made and natural emergencies. GEMA/HS’s Ready Georgia website and preparedness campaign provides Georgians with the knowledge needed to effectively prepare for disasters. Go to gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia for information on developing a custom emergency plan and Ready kit.