join this free webinar with expert vaughn baker and learn how to enhance security no matter the size of your budget.
There are few phrases in the English language that are more anxiety-inducing than “school shooting.” While most of the violence has occurred in public schools, private institutions have not been exempt. Google “shootings at faith-based schools” and you’ll quickly realize the threat is real:
In 2023, a shooter killed three third graders and three staff members at The Covenant School in Nashville.
In 2024, a shooter killed two people and insured six others at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin.
In 2025, a shooter killed two children and injured 21 others at The Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
In Nashville, an extensive police investigation revealed the school was chosen, in part, because “it was a soft target” in the eyes of the shooter. That’s a perception no school can afford. In recent times, educational institutions representing numerous denominations and religions have been the targets of threats, vandalism, arson and actual violence.
All schools face major challenges in creating a secure environment. But private schools and day cares, whether faith-based or secular, have even greater risks. Why?
Faith-based schools are often an extension of churches, synagogues or other houses of worship. Rigorous security can seem at odds with a family-oriented, welcoming environment.
Private and faith-based schools have limited funding compared to their public counterparts. Most struggle to make ends meet and cannot afford full-time security officers or training.
Tight funding can also limit physical security barriers, such as CCTV, gates and intruder-resistant hardware.
There’s no doubt that security in this environment is challenging. But it’s not impossible. Many houses of worship have similar vulnerabilities and have slowly risen to the occasion after violence – even at small churches in rural areas – became widely known. Security is not only for a few elite and well-funded religious institutions. All private and religious schools can elevate their security by implementing tactics including:
Training every employee to have a security mindset.
Investing in basic hardware to lock down classrooms.
Restricting entrance to permission-based access.
Additional tactics can include trained volunteer or contractual security, alarm systems, gated access and more.
Private schools and day cares often face an uphill battle in terms of financial, staff and operational constraints, but the safety of children in their care is paramount and can’t afford to wait until the next shock headline. Join our expert guest, Vaughn Baker, president of Strategos International, and learn how to protect those under your care.
Vaughn Baker is president of Strategos International, a Independence, Mo.,-based firm providing security training, consulting and executive protection services. Baker has 20 years of experience in law enforcement including patrol, investigation, SWAT and special operations. He has trained thousands of church, school, health care, government, law enforcement and military personnel in security practices. Baker is also the author of The Church Security Handbook.