NC Center for Safer Schools

• From the Executive Director
• RISE 2026
• School Safety Grants Update
• Student Teacher Orientation
• School Tours
• 2025 NBPM Contest Presentations
• RSSS Visits
• Student Support Services Summit
• SRO Spotlight
• Student Engagement Workshops
• BTAM Training
• YMHFA Training
• Calendar of Events
• Tell Us About It
• Contact the CFSS
• Follow Us

Welcome North Carolina schools! I pray each of you enjoyed a restful Christmas break with family and friends, and that you’re energized and ready for a productive spring semester.

11 December 2025 marked our one-year anniversary for the Center for Safer Schools becoming a division of the State Bureau of Investigation. This partnership has greatly strengthened our mission by providing new resources, enhanced collaboration, and increased support that were not available prior.

As we begin 2026, I want to hear from you. Your insight matters. Communication is essential to school safety, and we are committed to ensuring every public-school unit has the tools and support needed to create safer environments that are conducive for learning. If you have questions, ideas, or needs, please reach out to us anytime at CFSS@cfssnc.gov.

We have also added new staff to expand our capacity and better support schools across the state. I encourage you to check out our Staff Spotlight for more information and to get to know the newest members of our team.

Our staff remains dedicated to serving communities statewide. We are working to bring more in-person trainings and workshops to each region, making access to professional development and safety resources more convenient. Upcoming sessions will be posted in our Calendar of Events, so please check regularly for opportunities near you.

To stay connected with the Center throughout the year:

• Visit our YouTube channel to watch our January feature video.
• Follow us on social media for updates on trainings, new resources, and statewide safety initiatives.

Thank you for everything you do on behalf of our students. I wish you a happy, successful, and safe New Year!

— Karen W. Fairley

The 2026 RISE Back to School Safety Summit will be held from Tuesday, Aug. 4 to Thursday, Aug. 6 at the Greenville Convention Center. Join us for sessions including bullying prevention, suicide prevention, critical incidents and threat assessment.

The deadline to complete the Call for Proposals is Friday, Feb. 27, and the Sponsor Application deadline is Monday, March 2.

Don’t forget to download the Whova app to receive updates and engage with fellow attendees leading up to RISE 2026. Check the Center for Safer Schools newsletter and social media for more details over the coming months.

School Resource Officer Year 2 awards have been issued. If you received funding for the 2024-2025 fiscal year for SROs, then you received the Year 2 award via paper check or electronic deposit. This is designated for the hiring and training of SROs for middle and elementary schools.

The School Safety Grant carry-forward money has also been issued but was mislabeled on the check as SRO grant funding. This funding is available for use until June 2027. Please keep in mind that there is not a School Safety Grant application open at this time.

If you have questions, send an email to SchoolSafetyGrants@cfssnc.gov.

Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley on Friday, Nov. 7 made a presentation on school safety during the Student Teacher Orientation at N.C. State University in Raleigh.

Fairley emphasized the vital role of teachers in the safety of their classrooms. Topics included student engagement, bullying/cyberbullying, grooming and suicide prevention.

“The goal is to make sure children are safe and to make sure they are children one time,” Fairley said. “We have a lot of children who are in a dark place, and they need that support.”

Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley on Thursday, Nov. 13 took tours of Perquimans County Schools and Greene County Schools.

In Hertford (top photos), Fairley met with Perquimans County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tanya Turner, Assistant Superintendent James R. Bunch and Perquimans County Sheriff Shelby White. Afterward, Fairley toured Perquimans High School and met with staff members for a discussion on Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management.

In Snow Hill (bottom photos), Fairley visited Greene Central High School, Greene County Intermediate School and Greene County Middle School with Director of Student Services Antonio Blow. At Greene Central, she toured Student Health Services, which serves as a resource for students’ physical and emotional well-being. The Student Support Services staff at Greene County Intermediate briefed Fairley about the resources they provide for low-income and homeless students.

During her meetings with students in both districts, Fairley emphasized the importance of student leadership in school safety.

“School safety runs the gamut. It includes school climate,” she said. “The Center for Safer Schools makes great efforts to hear the voice of students. No one knows what’s going on in our schools more than you.”

The Center for Safer Schools would like to thank the students, staff and administrators at both Perquimans County Schools and Greene County Schools for their hospitality and commitment to school safety!

Center for Safer Schools staff in December helped recognize winners of the 2025 National Bullying Prevention Month Student Engagement Contest. The winning entries are available in the attachment below.

CFSS Student Engagement Manager Chelsea King and Student Engagement Coordinator Mya Batts on Wednesday, Dec. 3 delivered Chromebooks and hosted a pizza party for Peer Group Connection at West Bladen High School.

CFSS Regional School Safety Specialist-Southwest Donna Hamilton on Thursday, Dec. 11 presented awards to high school winners Rosa Elder at Mount Airy High School (pictured with SRO Simmons) and Piper Schilling at Davie County High School. Elder said she’s proud of herself and that her poem was written about her sister who tried to end her life due to bullying.

CFSS Legislative & Communication Specialist Charles Kinnin attended the Monday, Dec. 15 meeting of the Perquimans County Board of Education to help recognize Karen Nieto of Perquimans High School. Perquimans County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tanya Turner presented Nieto with a framed copy of her poem, which she read to those in attendance.

Hamilton and Regional School Safety Specialist-Piedmont-Triad Sharon Hovis (right) on Friday, Dec. 12 presented a Chromebook to Shaelyn Thomas at Thomasville Middle School. Accompanying Thomas and her mother (center) were Thomasville Middle teacher Dr. Myra Hayes (second from left) and Principal Angela Alonzo.

Hamilton on Tuesday, Dec. 16 presented Chromebooks to Weddington Middle School students Marjaan Rana, Aadhya Proddaturu, Maggie Piper, Stella Souder, Charlotte Pratt and Lila Higgins, who collaborated on a winning video.

Center for Safer Schools Lead Regional School Safety Specialist-Western Robert Holland, Highlands Police Chief Andrea Holland, Macon County Sheriff Brent Holbrooks and Principal Sarah Holbrooks on Tuesday, Oct. 28 observed officers participating with students in the Highlands School lockdown drill.

CFSS Assistant Director-Training & Safety (Interim) Jeff Branch and Lead Regional School Safety Specialist-Eastern Henry Shamburger helped facilitate Active Assailant Simulation Training 2 on Nov. 10. The session was held at Samarcand Training Academy in Moore County and the former East Montgomery High School in Biscoe.

Shamburger (Rocky Mount) and CFSS Regional School Safety Specialist-Southwest Donna Hamilton (Jacksonville) attended Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Certified Training (ASIST) during the week of Nov. 17. The in-person trainings were conducted by Jessica Jackson and Gabriela Castro of the National Crisis Center in Miami.

Branch, a former DARE officer, spoke at the Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduation at Badin Elementary School in Stanly County on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Branch and Shamburger helped facilitate School Resource Officer School at the CFSS Training Center in Moore County during the week of Dec. 1. Topics covered included Roles of the SRO, Legal Updates, Education, Gang Awareness and Juvenile Mental Health.

Regional School Safety Specialist-Southeast Phillip Broughton on Thursday, Dec. 11 visited Topsail High School in Pender County to discuss the 2026 RISE Back to School Safety Summit and the importance of teacher preparedness. He is pictured with public safety teacher Luke Smith and SRO Deputy Simme.

Nash County Public Schools will host Student Support Services Summit 2026 on Thursday, Feb. 12 in Rocky Mount. Join student support staff from across North Carolina for a day of learning, connection and collaboration. Session topics will include Safety and Infrastructure, Stakeholder Engagement, Behavioral Wellness & Support, and Inclusive Education and Special Programs.

Sgt. Pamela Bryan serves as the supervisor of the School Resource Officer (SRO) Division at the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. With many years of experience as an SRO herself, Sgt. Bryan is deeply committed to protecting our schools and the children of this county.

A proud mother of four boys — three graduates of West Columbus High School and one current junior — Sgt. Bryan understands firsthand the importance of school safety. Each day, she goes above and beyond to ensure that every school in Columbus County has a dedicated and passionate School Resource Officer.

Sgt. Bryan spends much of her time visiting schools, ensuring that SROs have the tools and guidance they need, checking for potential security concerns, and offering support wherever it’s needed. Her commitment extends beyond the school day — she often attends and works school ballgames and after-hours events, sometimes even volunteering her time, to ensure a safe environment for students and families.

The SRO Division is the largest unit within the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, with 17 deputies under Sgt. Bryan’s leadership. Thanks to her organization, professionalism, and proactive approach, the division runs seamlessly — often resolving issues before they become noticeable.

Sgt. Bryan’s dedication and leadership make a lasting impact on our schools and community every single day.

— Submitted by Columbus County Schools

The Center for Safer Schools Student Engagement Team has set up a booking page to make requesting dates for workshops easier! We ask that all requests are submitted three weeks in advance from the date you are inquiring.

The workshops we offer generally last between 45 minutes to an hour, and our max number of students per session is 25. Upon completion of the workshop request form, a member of our team will follow up with you within 24 to 48 hours.

If you have questions, send an email to CFSS Student Engagement Manager Chelsea King (cking@cfssnc.gov) or Student Engagement Coordinator Mya Batts (mbatts@cfssnc.gov).

The Center for Safer Schools announces in-person Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Training dates for the spring semester. The dates and registration links are listed in the Calendar of Events.

BTAM training, based on Session Law 2023-78/House Bill 605, allows public school units to review legislative requirements and best practices in the implementation and development of BTAM teams. The training will also discuss the implementation and monitoring of the fidelity of behavioral threat assessments.

If you have general BTAM questions, send an email to SchoolSafety@cfssnc.gov. Questions regarding upcoming training dates (in-person or virtual) should be sent to CFSS Assistant Director-Training & Safety (Interim) Jeff Branch (jbranch@cfssnc.gov).

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) equips adults who work with youth to recognize, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in adolescents ages 12-18. Certified instructors can deliver YMHFA training both in person and online. Participants often include school staff and administrators, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals and social workers.

At the Center for Safer Schools, both programs staff and Regional School Safety Specialists are certified to provide YMHFA training to North Carolina public school units. In the top photo, CFSS Regional School Safety Specialist-Southwest Donna Hamilton conducts YMHFA training at the Whiteville City Schools Central Office on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

The training is free, but the cost of training materials is $28.90 per attendee.

Click YMHFA to request Youth Mental Health First Aid training facilitated by CFSS staff.

Center for Safer Schools Training Calendar

The Center for Safer Schools welcomes newsletter submissions about school safety events from school districts and charter schools across North Carolina. Email your information and photos to CFSS Legislative & Communication Specialist Charles Kinnin.

• General Inquiries: CFSS@cfssnc.gov
• BTAM/Protect Our Students Videos: SchoolSafety@cfssnc.gov
• Regional School Safety Specialists: RSSS@cfssnc.gov
• School Safety Grants: SchoolSafetyGrants@cfssnc.gov

NOTE: If you have sent an email to the Center for Safer Schools in recent weeks and did not receive a reply to your inbox, please check your spam folder.