School Safety Innovators: How Region 4 Is Redefining Campus Protection
When a murder suspect approached Buffalo Creek Elementary School last November, an employee had only moments to avert a dangerous situation. Thankfully, her training kicked in.
“[She] knew something wasn’t right,” explained Larry Baimbridge, Chief of Police at Spring Branch ISD. “[She] immediately got the kids that were near the door inside, closed and locked it as she’s been trained.”
Noticing the commotion, an officer chased the suspect off the school grounds. While fleeing, the fugitive carjacked two people at gunpoint, sideswiped a school bus, and exchanged gunfire with a Spring Branch ISD officer, who then fatally shot him.
This harrowing experience became a defining moment at the Region 4 Emergency Management and School Safety Expo where Spring Branch ISD’s safety team was honored with the Dr. Rod Paige Safety in Action Award for their exceptional response.
“The officer did exactly as he was trained,” Baimbridge said. “He was where he was supposed to be and doing what he was supposed to be doing. And as a result, we didn’t have any incident at the school itself, and all the kids were safe.”
Bringing Safety to the Forefront
The incident at Buffalo Creek Elementary School highlights the power of an effective school safety plan and response—a priority emphasized at the Region 4 Emergency Management and School Safety Expo.
The expo brought together more than 300 safety professionals and leaders from districts across the country who are dedicated to creating safer learning environments. Ken Culbreath, Director of the Office of Emergency Management and School Safety at Region 4, described the event as one of the largest expos directly focused on school safety and support in the region.
Participants shared best practices, engaged in hands-on skills demonstrations, and attended learning sessions on critical topics, including crime prevention, disaster response, active shooter scenarios, cybersecurity, and student mental health.
For many attendees, the expo was a chance to discover new tools and approaches to school safety. Marcus Prewitt, Dean of Student Life and Management at Saint Martin’s High School in Cleveland, Ohio, traveled hundreds of miles to attend.
“I’ve discovered tools and products I didn’t even know existed,” said Prewitt. “Within the first 15 minutes of walking through, I’ve scheduled a Zoom meeting for Monday of next week. . . . We’re looking forward to learning more about this potential product that we can have on our campus.”
For Cynthia Benitez, Director of Safety and Emergency Operations at Channelview ISD, the expo offered insights into campus protection, emergency response, and mental health initiatives. Beyond formal sessions, she valued connecting with other safety professionals.
“I’m looking for that authentic conversation,” she said. “I want to know what’s really going on with our students. What’s really going on with our staff? What’s really going on at every independent school, whether it’s public, charter, or just in the state of Texas?”
Dr. Rod Paige Safety in Action Awards
In addition to Spring Branch ISD, several other districts received the Dr. Rod Paige Safety in Action Awards, including Pasadena ISD, Waller ISD, and Goose Creek CISD. Waller ISD earned the Safety in Innovation Award for its comprehensive emergency preparedness efforts. The district now includes drug overdose kits on every bus and regularly involves first responders and safety experts in the planning, execution, and evaluation of school safety exercises.
“We have updated our lockdown procedures to include all of our local agencies, which provides even more collaboration outside of the school community,” explained Jamie Woodall, Executive Director of School Safety at Waller ISD.
A Vision for the Future
As schools continue to navigate an ever-evolving safety landscape, Culbreath hopes Region 4 remains a dedicated resource for improving school safety. Through its expert school safety consultation services, year-round training programs, and annual Emergency Management and School Safety Expo, Region 4 equips districts with essential resources to protect their campuses.
"We have your back,” he said. “Education is our calling, and we have solutions.”
For more information about Region 4’s school safety initiatives, visit esc4.net/schoolsafety.