Creating safe, supportive classrooms starts with empowering educators to prevent crises before they happen.
Throughout the summer, Alpine School District has hosted a series of Safety-Care training sessions across the district. The initiative reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of both students and staff.
Understanding Safety-Care Training
"Safety-Care is an evidence-based crisis prevention and de-escalation training grounded in behavioral science and positive-support frameworks," said Royd Darrington, Director of Special Education for ASD.
In this context, "crisis" refers specifically to acute student behavioral crises—moments where severe emotional dysregulation, property destruction, or physical aggression pose an immediate threat to the safety and well-being of the student or others.
To prepare staff for these high-stress situations, the training utilizes hands-on practice. Participants engage in role-playing scenarios where they practice de-escalation cues, refine their vocal tone, and rehearse safe physical positioning. In one exercise, trainees practice recognizing early behavioral warning signs—such as fidgeting or pacing—and immediately implementing gentle, supportive verbal prompts before a student's behavior can escalate further.
"It provides proven evidence-based strategies to our faculty and staff so they can effectively and appropriately support students that are in crisis," Darrington said.
He also noted that the training places a heavy focus on proactive support to keep situations from escalating into a crisis.
Who Receives the Training?
To ensure broad, consistent support across all schools, key identified district employees complete a 12-hour initial training to become certified Safety-Care specialists. This group includes school and district administrators, special education teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and BCBAs, all of whom will participate in annual recertification.
District leaders selected this national curriculum because it aligns closely with Utah State statutes and district policies designed to operate the organization efficiently and fairly.
"Safety-Care is a national leader in prevention and de-escalation practices and training," Darrington added. "They are widely recognized as an effective curriculum for school districts to utilize for system-wide support".
Leadership and Empathy in Practice
Participant Rex Brimhall, ASD Director of Transportation West, emphasized that ensuring safety is a shared responsibility among school leaders
"It is important for me to complete Safety-Care training because I have a responsibility to help ensure the safety and well being of both students and staff," Brimhall said. He noted that learning alongside staff allows leaders to provide informed guidance, coaching, and support across the district.
"The training has reinforced the importance of approaching every student with empathy, patience, and an understanding that challenging behaviors are often a form of communication," Brimhall explained.
"My biggest takeaway is that prevention and de-escalation are always the primary goals," said Brimhall. He emphasized that maintaining student dignity while ensuring safety guides every interaction.
De-escalation as a Core Strategy
The hands-on training also highlighted how adult demeanor directly impacts crisis outcomes.
"The biggest surprise was how much influence an adult's own demeanor, tone of voice, body language, and emotional regulation can have on the outcome of a crisis," Brimhall observed. "It was a valuable reminder that staying calm and intentional is one of the most effective intervention strategies".
Through responsible governance and continuous staff training, Alpine School District remains dedicated to building professional capacity across all schools.
"This training has strengthened my confidence in supporting both students and staff during challenging situations," Brimhall concluded. "Most importantly, I can help ensure that interventions remain student-centered, trauma-informed, and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for everyone involved".