There are only two types of safety—mechanical and human (people).

Doors, cameras, gates, and locks are mechanical safety.
Your policies, procedures, and practices are people safety.

Mechanical is a hard asset. People are a soft asset.

Mechanical safety will stop an attacker from getting into your classroom. People safety will make sure the door is closed and locked.

Mechanical safety will deter an event.
People safety will prevent the event.

Mechanical safety hinders unwanted movement.
People safety encourages positive interaction.

Mechanical safety creates a safer environment.
People safety creates a safer and better culture.

If you only focus on perfecting your mechanical safety, your safety will feel cold, hard, and unfriendly. It’s difficult to be inspired by a camera or a metal door. It’s still extremely valuable…just not warm or inspiring.

If you only focus on perfecting your people safety, your safety will be warm, engaging, and friendly but that alone won’t stop a threat from getting into your classrooms. Your classroom doors must provide excellent protection.

Most schools focus on mechanical. However, mechanical is only as good as your people safety. Afterall, what good is a great classroom door if the people using it never lock it or can’t quickly close it during a lockdown?

The secret to being safe is to have a robust blend of both types of safety.

As you prepare for next year, continue improving your mechanical safety. The greatest improvement you can make is to enhance your classroom doors (ADA handle, metal door frame, and small window with safety wire or tape).

Make this your mechanical safety priority!

Your people safety priority should be to inspire your staff to engage! Engage by blending in violence prevention techniques (safety layers and filters) into every positive student engagement. Engage by perfecting lockdowns to 7 seconds or quicker. Engage by making the most of your mechanical devices by locking every door handle.

Make engage your byword for next year as well as your people safety priority!

Last point—mechanical devices are vital but your people are priceless. People are by far your greatest safety asset. No mechanical device will ever outdo one vigilant, caring, prepared, and responsible person. People are the prize for making your school safe and your teachers, students, and staff members feel loved. Put your effort into your people! They deserve it, need it, and will amaze you at what they can do when inspired to see safety as something different, holistic, positive, and in harmony with the goals of education.

If you improve your people, I promise you’ll leap forward in safety!

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If you’d like to prepare and inspire your teachers, consider scheduling a Safe & Loved teacher professional development. Presentations can be 3-8 hours long and fit perfectly into in-service training.

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