Continued from the opening keynote, this presentation, delivered by Max Schachter, who tragically lost his 14-year-old son Alex in the Parkland school shooting, chronicles his personal journey from profound grief to becoming a tireless advocate for school safety. As a nationally recognized school safety advocate and a commissioner on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, Max leverages his firsthand experience and policy expertise to drive meaningful change in school safety.

Focus on Prevention and Response
The presentation primarily focuses on preventing future school shootings by sharing the painful lessons learned from the Parkland tragedy and advocating for policy changes at the highest levels of government. It also aims to improve response strategies by providing officials with a visceral understanding of the devastating consequences of the shooting, which can inform the development of more effective emergency plans and communication protocols.
● Understanding the Systemic Failures: Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the multitude of failures that occurred before, during, and after the Parkland shooting, encompassing security lapses, communication breakdowns, and inadequate emergency response.
● Learning from Post-Parkland Policy Changes: The presentation will delve into the various safety measures that have been implemented in Florida and at the federal level since the Parkland shooting, including enhanced background checks, red flag laws, and increased funding for school security.
● Best Practices and Lessons Learned: Attendees will learn about best practices and invaluable lessons gleaned from the Parkland shooting, such as the importance of threat assessment, mental health support, and active shooter drills.
● Data-Driven School Safety: The presentation will explore how data can be leveraged to improve school safety, including identifying potential threats, assessing vulnerabilities, and measuring the effectiveness of safety measures.
● Florida's Threat Assessment and Management Model: Attendees will be introduced to Florida's new threat assessment and management model, which aims to identify and intervene with students who may pose a threat to themselves or others.

Max Schachter's presentation is not only a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of school shootings but also a powerful call to action for all stakeholders to work together to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety and well-being of all students. Following the keynote, a morning and afternoon breakout session will be offered to continue the presentation.