This August, an exceptional two-day training event is coming to our region — and you won’t want to miss it. The Northwest Educational Service District’s (NWESD) School Safety and Wellness Center (SSWC) is hosting its 2026 School Safety Symposium, featuring the nationally acclaimed Circle of Trust workshop, a hands-on, scenario-based training designed to turn safety plans into actionable readiness.
Save the dates: Aug. 17-18, 2026, at the Mount Vernon Library Commons in Mount Vernon, WA.
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 changes how your team works together — for good.
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 school safety advocate whose life was forever changed on Dec. 14, 2012, when two of her children were present during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and escaped safely. That experience launched her into years of safety leadership — including roles at the “I Love U Guys” Foundation and as Executive Director of Safe2Tell. She now serves as Vice President of RedBag Inc., focused on emergency response, reunification, and community preparedness. Carly will lead a reunification walk-through on day 2, giving participants hands-on practice with 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 on that same day. Now a young speaker and aspiring educator, Reichen shares his story to advocate for resilient, supportive, and safe school environments. His day 2 session, “Letter to My Younger Self,” promises to be both moving and meaningful.
Together, Carly and Reichen bring a perspective that no policy manual can replicate — a 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, Fully Packed
Day 1 (Aug. 17) kicks off with keynote addresses from Carly and Reichen Posey, followed by Circle of Trust training modules covering the foundations of operationalizing school safety, including hands-on modules conducted in partnership with regional emergency response agencies.
Day 2 (Aug. 18) goes deeper with advanced modules, EOP (Emergency Operations Plan) operationalization, leadership support, and a comprehensive reunification walk-through. The day closes with open discussion and Q&A session.
Register Today
Space is limited, so don’t wait.
Register on pdEnroller
For more information, contact the NWESD School Safety & Wellness Center: safetycenter@nwesd.org, or visit the SSWC’s website for full details.
This event is made possible with support from Convergint Technologies and Verkada. The SSWC is very thankful for their generosity.
