POCATELLO, Idaho — Rising safety concerns in schools have prompted Idaho State University’s Albion Center to collaborate with the National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD) on a set of online security courses designed for K-12 teachers and administrators across the country.
Dubbed the Foundations of School Security Leadership (FoSSL), the fully online, self-paced training covers the principles and practices needed to strengthen security measures in educational settings. The program seeks to transform learning environments and boost safety in schools.
Guy Bliesner, an ISU alumnus with more than 30 years in K-12 education, directs the FoSSL project. He holds the title of School Safety and Security Analyst for southeast Idaho schools and sits on the NCSSD board. Bliesner has conducted hundreds of site reviews and led Idaho’s first statewide school safety condition assessment.
“This course marks an impressive completion of school security knowledge developed by the people who are actively working in security at the school level,” Bliesner said.
Course material covers nine key topics drawn from ZeroNow’s Path to Safer Schools framework:
- School security leadership roles
- Educational security applications
- Culture and climate in school security
- District and school safety committees
- Risk, threat, and vulnerability assessments
- Physical security systems and equipment
- Security personnel and processes
- Emergency management planning and implementation
- Advocacy, acceptance, and funding strategies
FoSSL is structured in two three-credit sections, offering a total of six graduate-level credits. Each section includes about 45 hours of coursework. The first segment launches in October 2025, with the second following later in the term.
The courses are aimed at educators stepping into security leadership positions and law enforcement professionals transitioning to roles such as school resource officers.
Tuition is set at $55 per credit with no extra charges. New students receive an initial $200 credit and may enroll without a formal ISU application.
Upon finishing the program, participants can request free official transcripts from ISU and earn completion certificates from NCSSD. These non-degree, graduate credits support professional development, license renewal, and may factor into pay advancement.
“These courses give educators the tools and confidence to build safer learning environments for every student,” said Gabriel Rodriguez, managing director of the Albion Center.
