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Safety, Security & Emergency Management
Safeguarding APS students, staff and community
The Office of Safety, Security & Emergency Management (SSEM) is committed to safeguarding Arlington Public Schools (APS) students, staff, and the broader community. As APS strives to fulfill its educational mission and advance the priorities outlined in the 2024-30 Strategic Plan, one of the primary challenges we face is minimizing the security risks associated with our schools. To address these challenges, SSEM has adopted a systems-based approach to school security planning and implementation.
This systems-based approach layers security measures and mitigations to:
- Manage risks effectively.
- Respond swiftly to threats.
- Deter incidents from occurring within our schools.
- Prevent single points of failure across our security framework.
Core Services Integrated into the Systems-Based Approach
The success of this approach relies on the seamless integration of the following major services provided by SSEM:
Committed to a Safe and Secure Learning Environment
Learn more about our proactive and comprehensive systems-based approach to school security.
Physical Security Equipment and Technology
Management of industry-leading tools and systems to reduce risks.
School Safety Coordinators (SSCs) and Security Professionals
Personnel dedicated to fostering safe and productive learning environments.
Emergency Management, Training, Exercises, and Drills
Preparing staff and students for a range of emergencies.
Threat Assessment
A focus on behavior and communication of threats and other forms of conflict before escalation.
Stakeholder Relations
Coordination with local law enforcement, emergency responders, and community partners.
Please report any school safety issues, such as threats, dangerous rumors, drug use, theft, harassment, gang activities, weapons in a facility, and vandalism to a school administrator or school resource officer.
Report a Threat AnonymouslyTools & Resources
Online Resources
For more resources and news about how Security Professionals safeguard a school system, check out SchoolSafety.gov which was created by the federal government to provide schools and districts with actionable recommendations to create safe and supportive learning environments for students and educators.
The following resources are available to review and provides best practices approaches to emergency response.
SSEM Staff
Aaron Queen
Director, SSEM
Aaron Queen has served more than twenty years with Arlington Police Department, including patrol officer, crime scene agent, community police officer, school resource officer (SRO), detective, master police officer, and most recently, leadership roles in Patrol Operations and Community Engagement Divisions. As a school resource officer, he spent 12 years of his law enforcement career assigned to APS schools, and was the girls’ basketball coach for seven years at Washington-Liberty High School. Sgt. Queen is an Arlington resident and proud parent of three adults who attended Arlington Public Schools.
