General Sessions

Safe Schools Start with All of Us.

keynote presentations

2026 General Sessions

General sessions bring all participants together for keynote presentations and discussions led by national and local experts, focusing on the most pressing issues.

General Session #1: “A Call to Leadership Empowering Youth in A Globally Connected World“

Wednesday, July 8 | 10: 15am – 11:45am

The world of social media and online relationships have changed dramatically in the past five years. For the first time in history our kids can reach the entire world, and the entire world can reach our kids. It has never happened before. There are now more than 5.5 Billion Internet users.

At the same time, we have experienced a technological transformation unlike we have ever seen before. Most Internet users now have Geo Location Software pinpointing their location, Mass Audience Live Streaming with millions of other users, and most apps and games have sophisticated Money Transfer capability. The biggest technological impact changing our lives is Artificial Intelligence.

This is a historical call to leadership for Educators. How we prepare this generation of young people to live in a world without borders and homes without walls, where even their most private space can be accessed, will set the stage for all future generations of global internet users. We must get this right!

Today’s students, will have more opportunities than any generation before them, but they will also have more opportunity to be exploited by millions of people they have never met. The challenge for Educators is to prepare this first generation of global users to enter online relationships with respect and responsibility while learning to protect themselves (and others) so they will not be exploited.

The Challenge for parents is staying current on this rapidly changing environment and understanding the values for good as well as the dangers for their family. It is important to be aware of which apps, games and chatrooms might pose a risk for a young user as well as understanding how to create a positive, respectful relationship with minors who might be introduced to online activities

Presenter: Opal Singleton Hendershot
President & CEO – Million Kids

Opal Singleton Hendershot is the President and CEO of Million Kids, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to keeping kids safe from predators. Million Kids serves as the Advisor to the Training and Outreach Coordinator for the Riverside County Anti Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT) and works with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. With her expertise, Opal has educated and trained more than 750,000 government and individual leaders labor trafficking, adult and child sex trafficking, foreign national trafficking, gang trafficking, advanced technologies used in sex crimes, sextortion and social media exploitation, global financial sextortion, crypto currency and money laundering, the Dark Net and bulletproof hosting, and CSAM (child sexual abuse materials). She often appears on television and radio talk shows across the United States.

Opal is the author of three books. Seduced: The Grooming of America’s Teenagers, and Societal Shift: A World Without Borders, Her New E book: Digital Warfare : Our Kids on the Frontline explores the technology transformation that changes crime and crime solving including artificial intelligence, mass audience live streaming, global digital currency, geo location software, and encryption, Opal is a lecturer and subject matter expert for the National Education Safety and Security Initiative in UCLA’S Center for Public Health and Disasters. Opal has completed the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation Instructor Course and served on the Peace Officers Standardized Training panel to develop the training curriculum on human trafficking for law enforcement in California.

Opal is the Executive Producer of a global documentary “Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic” which premiered at the Pentagon and is available for download on Amazon, Apple TV and iTunes. The film has been edited for school classrooms and is being distributed across the U.S. through the Netsmartz program. Opal hosts a weekly podcast titled “Protect and Prevent” P3Kids to educate the public about the latest trends in human trafficking, CSAM and online exploitation.

Simply stated: Opal cares deeply about the safety of young people and their families.

General Session #2: “Beyond the Screen“

Wednesday, July 8 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Beyond the Screen is a comprehensive and practical presentation for educators, counselors, school resource officers, parents, and caregivers. Participants will uncover the hidden risks facing children and teens in today’s digital landscape. The course addresses social media pitfalls, gaming addiction, predators, sextortion, cyberbullying, and the growing threat of artificial intelligence misuse.

Topics include:

The Digital Landscape Today – How kids and teens use devices, apps, and platforms.

The Mental Health Crisis – Links between early device use and rising anxiety, depression, and self-harm.

High-Risk Platforms – Risks of Snapchat, TikTok, Discord, and hidden apps parents must know.

Online Predators & Sextortion – Case studies, warning signs, and effective parent/educator responses.

Artificial Intelligence Threats – Deepfakes, AI companions, and exploitation concerns.

The Cyber Safety Cop Plan – Four pillars: talk to your child, use parental controls, create balance, and establish accountability.

Practical Tools & Contracts – Family tech agreements, monitoring apps, and community resources

Presenter: Clayton Cranford
Founder – Cyber Safety Cop

Clayton Cranford is the founder of Cyber Safety Cop. He is a retired Sergeant from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, where he served as a School Resource Officer, Juvenile Investigator, Crisis Negotiator, and Behavioral Threat Assessor. Clayton is recognized as one of the nation’s leading law enforcement educators on social media, child safety, teen drug abuse prevention, and behavioral threat assessments. He authored the definitive parenting book on online safety, “Parenting in the Digital World,” and his new book, “Screen Time Standoff: Negotiation Skills to Unplug Your Kid.” He speaks to students, K-12th grade, and to parents in after-school workshops throughout the United States, providing practical guidance on safe online behavior.

General Session #3: “No Legs, No Limits”

Thursday, July 9 | 11:00am – 1:00pm

I’m truly honored and excited to be speaking at the 2026 National Safe Schools Conference this July. With educators, school leaders, and school safety professionals coming together around the shared goal of creating safer environments for students, this conference couldn’t be more important. In my presentation, No Legs, No Limits, I’ll share my journey as a five-time Paralympian and the first double above-knee amputee to complete an Ironman Triathlon, along with the challenges I faced growing up with a physical disability—including navigating bullying at a young age. My hope is to reinforce how powerful early education can be in shaping empathy, inclusion, and resilience, and why it’s so important for kids to learn that being different is okay. When we teach students to believe in themselves—and to respond to “you can’t” with “yes, I can”—we help build safer, stronger school communities for everyone.

Presenter: Rudy Garcia-Tolson
Five-time Paralympian

General Session #4: “Unpacking 764: Building Stronger Bridges Between Education and Law Enforcement“

Friday, July 10 | 9:45 – 11:15 am

This presentation will provide an in-depth look at the rapidly evolving online Nihilist Violent Extremist (NVE) groups, particularly those of the 764 and the True Crime Community. The session will analyze recruitment tactics, messaging strategies, and how those involved prey on teens.

Using real-world case examples handled by this team, attendees will learn about behavioral warning signs, risk factors, and escalation patterns linked to these harmful online groups. The session will highlight how the team and its partners identify, manage, and mitigate threats through a multi-disciplinary threat-assessment framework.

The discussion will conclude with best practices in intervention planning, safety management, and ongoing monitoring—emphasizing the collaborative efforts between schools, law enforcement, mental health providers, and community stakeholders to support vulnerable youth and prevent radicalization.

Presenters: Detective Cronin and Deputies Hollis and Whitworth
are a part of the Orange County School Mobile Assessment and Resource Team (S.M.A.R.T.). This multi-agency task force is a specialized unit that focuses on threat assessments and safety management within schools. S.M.A.R.T. is a part of the larger Orange County School Threat Assessment Team, which is a multi-disciplinary team that brings together law enforcement, mental health professionals, juvenile courts, and educators to collaboratively evaluate and mitigate potential threats on and around our school campuses, ensuring a safer learning environment for all students.

Presenter: Detective Sean Cronin

Detective Sean Cronin is in his 14th year of full-time law enforcement. His assignments have included Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Crisis Negotiator for the SWAT Team, and Dignitary Protection Detail. Sean is also a certified California P.O.S.T. instructor and serves on the Honor Guard and Peer Support teams. Detective Cronin has advanced training in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), campus law enforcement, active shooter response, behavioral threat assessment, and faith-based safety. He is also a certified trainer of the C.S.T.A.G. (Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines) model and with the Department of Homeland Security’s NTER Master Trainer Program.

Presenter: Deputy Mary Hollis

Deputy Mary Hollis has been in law enforcement for 8 years and has worked in the jails, patrol, as a School Resource Officer, and was a part of the department’s Behavioral Health Bureau. Prior to entering law enforcement, Mary was a Behavioral Therapist working with children, adolescents, and adults. She spent much of her time working with non-profit groups and helped to develop behavior intervention plans. Deputy Hollis is a certified trainer of the C.S.T.A.G. (Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines) model.

Presenter: Deputy Whitworth

Deputy Whitworth is in her 14th years of service in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and has served as a Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer (SRO), and S.M.A.R.T. Deputy. She has a background in Emergency Management and Organizational Leadership strengthens her ability to coordinate multi-agency responses, evaluate threats using evidence-based frameworks, and guide schools through safety planning, intervention strategies, and long-term monitoring. Her work emphasizes early detection, collaborative assessment, and proportional response to prevent harm while supporting at-risk youth.