This document provides an agenda and materials for a school greeter training workshop. The agenda covers roles and responsibilities of greeters, skills needed, recognizing potential problems, communications tools, and skills building. It emphasizes that greeters are the first line of defense and their welcoming attitude can guide visitor impressions. Greeters must observe for safety issues, use active listening and de-escalation skills, and know emergency response procedures like lockdowns. The training aims to make greeters aware of potential threats and how to respond appropriately to keep schools safe.

1. School Greeter
Training Workshop

2. Agenda
• Roles and Responsibilities of School
Greeters
• Skills for being a School Greeter
• Recognizing potential problems
• Communications
• Tools and Resources available
• Skill building and information sharing

3. Multifaceted Approach to Safety
• No portion stands alone
• Where have we been
Escort Comm-
• Where we are going Visitor
Sign-
unication
• District Policies in
• Emergency Response Desk Weapons
De-
Sign-out
escalation
ID
2/14/2013 3

4. Why are we here?
• Violent crime in
schools has
declined since
1994. The
incident rate in
2003 (6 per
1,000 students)
was less than
half of that in
1994
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization
Survey (NCVS). Cited in Table 2.2 in Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2005; National Center
for Education Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics.

5. Why are we here?
• September 17, 2007: Willingboro, NJ - Elementary school locked down
after unidentified male came onto school property and shot at the building
while children were inside. No one was injured.
• September 28, 2007: Houston, TX – A middle school student, who had
been suspended earlier in the day for threatening teachers, returned to the
school with a 9mm gun loaded with 14 rounds. The school was in
lockdown for about 15 minutes.
• October 10, 2007: Cleveland, OH – A student shot two teachers and two
students, and then killed himself. The shooter had been suspended the
day before for fighting with another student.
• October 10, 2007: Norristown, PA – A student was arrested for planning a
Columbine-like attack and stockpiling a mass of weapons. Police
reportedly found numerous guns, bomb-making instructions, videos of the
Columbine attack, hand grenades, and other items.

6. Why are we here?
• January 18, 2008: Hempstead, NY - A 15-year-old male high school
student was stabbed while playing handball on the high school's athletic
court around 3:30pm after school dismissed. Initial police reports were that
the victim and his 16-year-old friend were ambushed by non-students
• January 23, 2009: Cahokia, IL - A 17-year-old male non-student was shot
and killed in a high school parking lot in between junior varsity and varsity
girls basketball games.
• September 15, 2009: Coral Gables, FL - A 17-year-old high school
student was stabbed to death during a fight in a school courtyard around
9:00am
• October 30, 2009: Long Beach, CA - A 16-year-old female high school
honors student was shot and killed while leaving a high school
homecoming game. Police reported the victim was an innocent bystander
in the middle of two rival gangs engaged in a conflict.

7. Why are we here?
• December 14, 2012 – Sandy Hook Elementary, 20 year old Armed
Gunman entered school with several guns and opened fire in several
classrooms. Killed 20 students, and 7 staff members. Committed Suicide
when law enforcement arrived at school.

8. Entrance / Access
• There should be one to each building (or very
limited means of access)
– “single point of entry”
• All other doors should be locked
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9. Enhancing Equipment
Entrance / Access
• Cameras
• Buzzers / Keypads / Proximity Cards
• Interior Doors
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10. YOU Are Your School !!!
• The Greeter is usually the first
person a visitor encounters
• Your first impressions will guide
you on how to treat the visitor
• Their first impressions will dictate
how they view your school
KEEP YOUR SCHOOL SAFE…
MAKE YOUR VISITOR FEEL
WELCOME

11. Roles and Responsibilities of
a School Greeter
• Welcome visitors and ensure they follow proper
visitor rules
• Identify potential hostile/dangerous situations and
report them properly
• Work with School Administrators and outside
agencies to ensure a safe school environment

12. Roles and Responsibilities of
a School Greeter
Greeting a Visitor:
- Ask who they are and who they are there to
see. Request picture ID, verify name
- Contact the person visitor is seeing and
have them come to front desk
- Door should be opened from inside or remotely
- Use most direct path from door to desk
DO NOT ALLOW VISITORS TO WANDER
THROUGH THE SCHOOL !!!

13. Roles and Responsibilities of
a School Greeter
• Have visitor sign in and give them a visitor badge.
Remind them of the need to sign out and return the
badge when done
• School may have policy regarding visitors being
accompanied at all times, including while departing
• Be observant for visitor departing and ensure they
sign out

14. Roles and Responsibilities of
a School Greeter
• Be observant for any potential problems in the
area of the school entrance
• Be observant for any potential problems
anywhere in the school and report them
• Know what to do in case of an emergency
• Know the building floor plan

15. Skills of a School Greeter
Observing
(Seeing, Listening, Monitoring)
Reporting
(Internal (Office, Security, etc) and External
(Police, Emergency Responders, etc.)

16. Observe
The individual may be under the
influence of one or more of the
following emotions:
ANGER
FRUSTRATION
CONFUSION

17. Self Control
The only aspect of a crisis
situation that we have
absolute control over is our
EMOTIONS.

18. Self Control
When confronted with a
difficult subject, the first step
is not to control his/her
behavior,
but to control your own
behavior.

19. Self Control
If you can’t control yourself,
you can’t control the
situation.

20. Nonverbal Behavior
Your tone indicates your
attitude.
A calm controlled demeanor
may be more effective than
a brilliant argument.

21. Self Control
Allow individual to finish
before you respond
Repeat back what you think
the problem is

22. Nonverbal Behavior
Tone of voice
Eye contact (or lack of)
Facial expressions
Posture and gestures

23. Observing
Seeing
• Monitoring of door
• Recognition of non-regular people
• Potential problems between students
• Signs of problems (smoke, fire, etc)
• Recognition of suspicious items (i.e.
packages, backpacks, weapons, etc)

24. Recognizing Problems
• Recognizing potentially dangerous individuals
Ask yourself: Does this person belong in
this place at this time?
• Problems between students
• Unusual sights/sounds/smells
• Alarms and warnings

25. Observing
Monitoring
• Do not get physically involved
• Notify school/outside officials
• Always be aware of who is in the area

26. Observing
Listening
• Attending to buzzer/intercom
• Listening for sounds of potential
problems (fights, alarms, noises)

27. Active Listening
• LISTEN
• ACKNOWLEDGE
• DON’T ARGUE

28. Five Steps To Active Listening
1. Listen to the content
2. Listen to the intent, repeat it back for clarity
3. Be aware and assess nonverbal communication
4. Monitor your nonverbal communication
5. Listen with empathy

29. EMPATHY
Empathy absorbs tension.
“Let me be sure that I understand
what you need …”
“I can understand how you would
be upset over …”
Be careful not to promise
something you cannot give

30. Occupy The Individual
Slow things down

31. De-escalation
• Aggressive Behavior and Body Language
• “You must sign-in!”
• “I need you to sign-in”
• Notify appropriate personnel if threats are made
• Descriptions
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32. Practice
• With a partner, choose one to act as the
greeter, one will act as a visitor
• Use the scenario given to you
• Use the active listening skills that we reviewed

33. The Role in a Crisis: Tools for
Dealing with the Dreaded Phone
Call

34. Communications
• Internal
Intercom system / door buzzer
Communication with office/supervisors
Notification of potential hostilities
• External
Police/Emergency Services
Oswego BOCES

35. How Your Role Plays into Response
• Major Components
– Relationships
• Know your crisis team members, know staff and students
– Communications
• Gather facts and share information with administrators
• Know your Phone Tree
• Gotta-Go-Bags (ensure resources are maintained)
• Use Tools to gather facts
– Bomb Threat Card, Greeter Checklist
– Training and Practice
• Conduct periodic training on role (tabletops/drill scenarios)

36. Communications
• Ensure phone numbers, fax numbers, email
addresses of each building crisis team is updated.
– Common language between school district and
emergency responders.
– Understand communication protocols in regard to
school safety.
– Staff Identification Badges.
• Best Practice Consideration – number all exterior doors
for easy identification for emergency services response.

37. Greeter Checklist
SCHOOL GREETER CHECKLIST SCHOOL: __________
MONTH: _____________
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Supplies
Visitor Log and Badges
Staff Directory
Emergency Contacts
Pens
Information Log
Emergency
Response
Building Safety Plan
Go Bag
Student Attendance
Staff Attendance
Bomb Threat Card
First Aid Kit
AED
Setup
Line of Sight to Office
Line of Sight to Door
Remote Door Access
Clear pathway
Communications
Phone
Cell Phone
Radio
Remote Alarm
Video
Miscellaneous

38. Bomb Threat Card
http://troopers.ny.gov/Publications/Crime_Prevention/bombcard.pdf

39. Gotta Go Bags

40. More
• Do not leave desk unattended
• Watch for distractions
• Have a means of communication
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41. More
• Be mindful of what you may say in front of
visitors (protect confidentiality)
• Bathroom Break Coverage
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42. Awareness - - Packages
 Suspicious
Packages
 Bomb
Threats
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43. Housekeeping
• Desk appearance
• Potential weapons
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44. Additional Tools
and Resources Available
Oswego BOCES Health and Safety – Debra Eichholtz (315) 963-4476
Oswego BOCES Security – Mike Sterio (315) 963-4481
New York State Police, Troop D – Jack Keller, Outreach Coordinator (315) 366-6077
New York State Center for School Safety – http://nyscenterforschoolsafety.org/
National School Safety Center – http://www.schoolsafety.us/
Centers for Disease Control – www.cdc.gov/injury/
Keep Schools Safe - http://www.keepschoolssafe.org/
Public School Parents Network - http://www.psparents.net/school_security.htm

45. Safe
Schools
Is
Our
Business

46. Questions???

47. Quiz

48. Conclusion
• Ask questions, share ideas with colleagues, make
suggestions
• Attend Crisis Team Meetings
• Know your Role in Emergency Response

49. Thank you for your Time!
We are Here to Help!
Office of Safety and Risk Management
Debra Eichholtz, Safety Coordinator
315-963-4476
deichholtz@oswegoboces.org