SECOND GENERAL SESSION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 | 8:30-10 A.M. | TEXAS BALLROOMS A-F

Four Day Weekend

Sponsored by CatapultK12

Four Day Weekend is the longest-running comedy show in the Southwest. They’ve performed over 7,000 shows and have been honored to deliver this “Yes, And” training to the United States Congress and provided entertainment for 2 US Presidents. They are here to teach the art of improvisation and how it applies to the business world and beyond.

Joining us from Four Day Weekend are Emily Zawisza and Josh Roberts

Third General Session

TSPRA School Safety Forum

Sponsored by Harris County Department of Education

Following the breakfast and General Membership meeting, TSPRA member and former PIO and Communications Director, Dr. Celina Bley of the Texas School Safety Center will lead a 90-minute School Safety Forum, featuring information and updates on the latest state requirements, a panel discussion of safety directors and school communicators and their roles in school safety best practices.

Presenter:

Celina Bley, Ph.D.

Dr. Celina Bley is the Associate Director of Training and Education with the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University. She started at the Center in February 2019 and brings with her 18 years of district administrator experience in the Central Texas area. She began in the field as a Communications Director and worked her way up to Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations which included school safety for a 6A District. She received her Doctor of Philosophy in Education in the field of Adult, Professional and Community Education from Texas State University. She is the mother of two teenage girls and when not learning about the latest social media craze from them, she likes to lift weights and be outside.

Panel Members:

Laura Jobe, Chief Information Officer, Mesquite ISD

This is Laura’s 26th year with Mesquite ISD and in the field of school public relations. In her role as Chief Communications Officer, she oversees all the district’s communication functions, including crisis communications, media relations, social media, bilingual communications and outreach, marketing and branding, websites, video production, graphic design, special events, and student and staff recognition. She also supervises operations for Mesquite ISD’s radio station, KEOM 88.5, and the district’s print shop. Prior to joining Mesquite ISD, she worked in journalism, corporate communications and communications consulting.

Britney Fortner, Director, Safety and Security, YES Prep Public Schools

Britney is the Director of Safety and Security for Yes Prep Public Schools in Houston, TX and has firsthand experience responding to an active attacker on a school campus. Prior to this position, she worked at the Texas School Safety Center as the Grant Specialist over the School Behavioral Threat Assessment program, overseeing the training and implementation of threat assessment teams at districts across Texas. Before joining the TXSSC, she worked at the Austin Police Department in the Austin Regional Intelligence Center as the Threat Liaison Officer program coordinator.

Robby Ball, Director of Safety, Security and Threat Management, Mansfield ISD

Robby Ball is the Director for Safety, Security and Threat Management for Mansfield ISD. He is in his 17th year in education and has been a teacher/coach, school administrator, district coordinator, and now district director. He has been in charge of safety programs and systems for the past 8 years.

Dr. Julia Andrews- Harris Department of Education

Julia Y. Andrews is the director of the Center for Safe and Secure Schools. Andrews has served since early 2018 as the school culture and climate specialist for CSSS. She has been responsible for conducting numerous school safety audits, leading and facilitating restorative practices training, and developing threat assessments for schools and districts. She is a certified trainer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS). She provides training in Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Development, Standard Response Protocol (SRP), and Standard Reunification Method (SRM).