Join us for the NWESD 2026 School Safety Symposium: Circle of Trust—Building Connection, Courage, Culture, and Community, a two-day event focused on operationalizing school safety through both systems and relationships. Held August 17–18, 2026 at the Mount Vernon Library Commons, this immersive experience brings together educators, safety leaders, and first responder partners to move beyond planning and into practice.

The symposium opens with compelling keynote sessions from Reichen Posey and Carly Posey. Reichen shares his lived experience as a survivor of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, offering a powerful youth perspective on safety, connection, and the long-term impact of school environments. Carly Posey, formerly with the I Love U Guys Foundation and Reichen’s mother, brings both personal insight and professional expertise in crisis response, reunification, and recovery. Together, they set the tone for deep reflection and purposeful action.

Participants will spend two immersive days engaged in Circle of Trust (C2T) training led by Chris Zimmerman, Principal at Cimarron Middle School in Parker, Colorado. This highly interactive experience equips school teams with practical tools to build trust, foster belonging, and strengthen school climate as the foundation for effective school safety. Throughout the symposium, sessions are intentionally designed to help participants move beyond written emergency plans and into real-world application—centering relationships as critical to prevention, response, and recovery.

Day 1 begins with opening remarks followed by keynote sessions from Reichen Posey and Carly Posey, setting the stage for the work ahead. The majority of the day is dedicated to Circle of Trust training, where participants will explore core practices and strategies, engage in collaborative learning, and begin applying concepts directly to their school contexts. Time is structured to balance learning, reflection, and practical application, ensuring participants can immediately connect training to their day-to-day roles.

Day 2 opens with Reichen Posey’s powerful “Letter to My Younger Self,” creating space for reflection and connection before continuing with advanced Circle of Trust training. Midday sessions focus on operationalizing Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) and strengthening leadership systems—helping school and district leaders clarify Incident Command System (ICS) roles, enhance decision-making, and align systems across levels.

In the afternoon, participants engage in a hands-on reunification walk-through led by Carly Posey alongside Circle of Trust trainers. This targeted session supports crisis response teams and school leaders in planning for long-term recovery, including coordinated approaches to mental health support, family reunification, communication, and sustained healing following a crisis. The day concludes with a structured debrief and closing to solidify key takeaways.

Throughout both days, participants will engage in meaningful reflection, collaboration, and problem-solving—ensuring the learning is relevant, actionable, and immediately applicable. This symposium is designed for educators, administrators, counselors, and safety team members committed to creating schools where safety is not only planned for, but lived out through strong relationships, clear systems, and a shared commitment to student well-being.

By the end of the two days, teams will leave with concrete strategies, strengthened partnerships, and a renewed sense of purpose in building safe, supportive, and resilient school communities.

LOCATION: 

Mount Vernon Library Commons

208 W Kincaid St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

PARKING ONSITE:

Free, indoor parking structure.

Electric car charging stations available (fees apply).

LODGING OPTIONS:

Here are a few nearby options. Please reach out if you have any questions or if you would like us to take a closer look at different options in the area.

Swinomish Casino and Lodge

Comfort Suites

La Quinta Inn & Suites

Hampton Inn & Suites

Candlewood Suites by IHG