This October, an exceptional two-day training experience is coming to our region, and you won’t want to miss it. The Northwest Educational Service District’s (NWESD) School Safety & Wellness Center (SSWC) is hosting the 2026 School Safety Symposium: Circle of Trust, featuring the nationally recognized Circle of Trust workshop, a hands-on, scenario-based training designed to help schools turn safety plans into coordinated, real-world readiness.
Save the dates: Oct. 14–15, 2026, at the Seafarers’ Memorial Park Building in Anacortes.
More Than a Workshop: A Call to Action
School safety isn’t just a policy binder on a shelf. It’s the relationships, trust, and practiced coordination that make the difference when it matters most. The Circle of Trust training, presented by Circle of Trust Training Systems (C2T), is built on exactly that philosophy.
Over two full days, participants will move beyond theory and into hands-on application, working through realistic scenarios that strengthen communication, deepen cross-team collaboration, and develop practical skills for prevention, response, and recovery. Regional emergency management agencies will be part of the training, making this a true whole-community readiness experience.
This is the kind of training that helps teams move from “We have a plan” to “We know how to work the plan.”
Keynote Speakers Who Have Lived It
What sets this symposium apart isn’t just the curriculum. It’s the people who will anchor it.
Carly Posey is a nationally recognized speaker and advocate for school safety and community preparedness. Her work in safety advocacy was deeply influenced by the Dec. 14, 2012, tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where two of her children were present during the shooting and escaped safely.
Since then, Carly has held leadership roles in safety and security organizations, including serving as Mission Director at the “I Love U Guys” Foundation and Executive Director of Safe2Tell. She currently serves as Vice President of RedBag Inc., focusing on emergency response, reunification, and community preparedness. Carly will lead a hands-on reunification walk-through on Day 2, giving participants an opportunity to practice one of the most critical, and often under-practiced, elements of emergency response.
Reichen Posey, Carly’s son, was a first grader at Sandy Hook Elementary School when the tragedy occurred. Now a speaker, aspiring educator, and coach, Reichen uses his experience to speak about resilience, strength, school safety, and the importance of supportive school communities. His presentation, “Letter to My Younger Self” offers a meaningful perspective on the human side of school safety and the role of connection, trust, and preparedness in helping communities move forward after tragedy.
Reichen will share this message with adult participants during the symposium, and regional high school students will also have a special opportunity to hear his presentation and engage with him directly on October 15th. This student session is designed to create space for young people to consider their own role in building safe, connected, and resilient school communities while hearing firsthand about Reichen’s journey of resilience and moving forward beyond tragedy.
Together, Carly and Reichen bring a perspective that no policy manual can replicate: a powerful reminder of why this work matters so deeply.
Who Should Attend?
This training is designed for school teams who are central to building a culture of safety in their district, including principals and school administrators, school counselors and behavioral health staff, school safety and security personnel, teachers and support staff involved in emergency planning, local emergency management, and law enforcement partners.
Collaboration with local emergency response agencies is highly encouraged! The more of your team that attends together, the more impactful the experience will be.
Two Days of Hands-On Learning
Day 1: October 14
The symposium begins with keynote addresses from Carly and Reichen Posey, followed by Circle of Trust training focused on operationalizing school safety. Participants will explore practical strategies for moving safety planning into action, with afternoon training conducted in partnership with regional emergency response agencies.
Day 2: October 15
Day 2 opens with Reichen Posey’s “Letter to My Younger Self”, followed by additional Circle of Trust training. Participants will then dive deeper into EOP operationalization and leadership supports, including new tools such as an RCW compliance crosswalk and fillable EOP template. The day concludes with a hands-on reunification walk-through with Carly Posey, followed by discussion and Q&A.
Both days are designed to help participants build confidence, strengthen coordination, and develop the practical skills needed to respond effectively when a crisis occurs.
Register Today
Space is limited, so don’t wait to reserve your spot.
Oct. 14–15, 2026
Seafarers’ Memorial Park Building, Anacortes
$250
Clock hours available
Lunch included
Register through pdEnroller, Event #203682.
For more information, contact the NWESD School Safety & Wellness Center at safetycenter@nwesd.org or visit the NWESD School Safety & Wellness Symposium webpage for full event details.
This event is made possible with support from Convergint Technologies and Verkada. The SSWC is very thankful for their generosity.
Don’t just have a safety plan. Build the trust, skills, and coordination to put it into practice.
