Penn State and Local School Districts to Hold School Violence Prevention Event

Just 101 days ago, tragic gun violence at Sandy Hook Elementary devastated a nation. Now, Penn State is teaming up with local school districts to educate the Centre County community about prevention of school violence. 

Free to the public, the event, “Preventing School Violence: From Community Awareness to Evidence-Based Policies and Practices” runs from 7:30-9 p.m. Monday in the lobby of the Outreach Building, 100 Innovation Park Blvd. It will also be streamed online. Online registration can be found here and registration will be accepted in person until seats are filled. 

The event is supported by several university and community sponsors, including Penn State World Campus, Penn State Continuing Education, the Social Science Research Institute, the Network on Child Protection and Well-Being, and the Penns Valley, Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, State College and Philipsburg-Osceola Area School Districts, Penn State said.

Keynote speaker John-Michael Keyes, whose daughter was killed in a 2006 shooting at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, Colo., will open the event and will be followed by a moderated panel discussion on violence in schools and Penn State’s research into to prevent similar tragedies.

Sitting on the panel are Karen Bierman, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Penn State, and Brian Bumbarger, director of Penn State’s EPISCenter, both members of Penn State’s Network for Child Protection and Well-Being

A question and answer session featuring online and in-person questions will follow the panel discussion. Viewers are invited to join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #SchoolSafety and on the live stream page for a moderated online chat.

Penn State has more information on the event and on the benefits of violence-prevention programs and research here.