TAIS Safe Schools Summit

School safety is evolving, and so must we.

Cost: TAIS Members: $170   |   Guests: $250  Snacks and lunch are included with registration.

Registration

From AI-enabled deepfakes and digital deception to physical threats and emergency coordination, today’s independent schools face a complex and rapidly shifting safety landscape. The TAIS Safe Schools Summit brings leaders, operations teams, communications teams, and safety personnel together for a full-day exploration of the tools, strategies, and partnerships essential to protecting school communities.

Anchored by an immersive morning session with Evan Harris of Pathos Consulting, the Summit equips attendees to understand and respond to emerging digital threats, including deepfake sexual abuse, voice cloning, reputational manipulation, and synthetic media scams. Building on this foundation, the afternoon features Expert Huddles—brief, small-group conversations with specialists in physical security, risk management, emergency coordination, communications systems, and digital safety—giving participants focused access to the solutions most relevant to their school.

The day concludes with forward-looking insight on the legal and legislative landscape shaping the future of school safety, bringing together strategy, practice, and preparedness in one streamlined experience for independent school leaders.

About Our Lead Facilitator

Evan Harris, President of Pathos Consulting Group, is a national expert on emerging AI risks in schools, with a focus on deepfake abuse and digital safety. He has advised the Office of the First Lady, the Texas State Senate, and the General Counsel of the National Association of Independent Schools, where he co-authored the legal guide on deepfake sexual abuse. A former teacher and administrator with a decade of experience in independent schools, Evan holds a master’s in Private School Leadership from Columbia University and was a Technology Ethics Fellow at Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute.

A Preview of Our Morning Immersion with Evan Harris

Part 1: Deepfake Safety for Schools

This session equips school leaders with the knowledge and tools to manage emerging risks from synthetic media. Participants will learn how deepfakes are being used in schools, including the often student-facing risks of bullying, sexual abuse, and sextortion. They will also discover operational, financial, and communications risks driven by AI misinformation  and AI-generated voice cloning that can be weaponized in vishing or reputational attacks. Finally, participants will gain clarity on the legal landscape surrounding synthetic media, including federal and state laws like the TAKE IT DOWN Act.

Teams will:

• Draft key elements of a deepfake policy tailored to their school’s culture
• Explore strategies for partnering with parents and educating students about AI safety

By the end, participants will leave with a clear framework for protecting students, supporting victims, and strengthening institutional resilience against deepfake-related threats.

Part II: Tabletop Simulation – Understanding and Responding to Deepfake Sexual Abuse 

In this highly interactive workshop, school leaders will confront the realities of deepfake sexual abuse through a structured tabletop simulation. Working in small teams, participants will navigate a realistic NCII (non-consensual intimate image) crisis unfolding in their school, from initial discovery through victim support, reporting obligations, and crisis communications. Along the way, they will engage with legal requirements, trauma-informed approaches, and institutional risk considerations. The session builds shared language, reveals blind spots, and helps teams begin shaping a school-specific policy and response plan grounded in best practices.