School Lockdown Drills: How to Reduce Fear and Trauma

Lockdown drills have become a standard part of school security across the United States. Although it is important to feel prepared to respond to a school emergency, these drills often elicit anxiety, fear, and sometimes trauma among students and staff.
Ian Lopez, director of safety and security for the Cherry Creek School District in Colorado and a 2024 K-12 Campus Safety Director of the Year finalist, has worked diligently to ensure lockdown procedures minimally impact student and staff mental health -- so much so that other districts have turned to him for advice.
In this interview, Lopez shares:
● Techniques for mitigating fear and trauma during lockdown drills (4:55)
● How the district ties in its alarm system during emergency drills (12:04)
● How he spearheaded the creation of the district's dispatch center while reducing operational costs (1:11)
● How threats and anonymous tips are handled by the dispatch center (3:04)
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