Head of School Letter: Prioritizing Safety, Building Community 

I spend a good bit of my day walking around the Shorecrest campus, whether it is during morning carline, on my way to meetings, heading over to my weekly reading sessions with Experiential School students or lunches with Seniors, and dropping in to watch games at the Crisp Gym or Haskell Field. Some of my favorite things about our campus are the sense of energy and friendliness, and the fact that for so many students Shorecrest is a place that truly feels like home.

As I travel around campus, safety, security and protecting our home are always on my mind. Our goal is to balance a warm, welcoming environment with the safest possible learning environment for our students. We continually evaluate and implement safety and security measures consistent with the School's Mission and resources. In addition to the many layers of security, including automated locks and the latest technology, we rely on the people of Shorecrest to keep our community safe.

Our two Allied Security officers, Officer Joe and Officer Glenn, are always on campus when students are present, often greeting students by name. They are here for more than just protection; they are a part of our community. Our safety team is led by Marcus Holmes, Shane Collins, and William Long, all of whom bring deep law enforcement experience to our campus every day. We also continue our strong partnership with local law enforcement, including the St. Petersburg Police Department who joins us each morning to help with morning traffic and patrol. And a quick shout-out to Deputy Wede and his Bloodhound K9 from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, who recently visited our Kindergarteners to teach them about service animals and the roles that they play at the Sheriff’s Department. This is a great example of how learning and security go hand-in-hand at Shorecrest.

Just as learning and security are connected, philanthropy and security are connected as well. Thanks to the incredible support of the Shorecrest Fund, we’ve been able to invest in some sophisticated layers of safety that you might not see every day:

• Camera Support: We’ve expanded to 285 high-definition cameras on campus, with AI analytics and license plate readers.
• Smart Access: We’ve updated access control panels on exterior doors, allowing us to manage every door on campus remotely.
• Emergency Flow: To keep roads clear for emergency vehicles, we’ve added "no parking" zones around the MSAS/Middle School carline loop during after-hours events. Please look for the cones!
• Weather: From hurricane-proof windows to lightning detectors and outdoor public address systems, we’re looking out for our students' physical well-being in times of severe weather.

We are always looking for ways to make our security smarter and less intrusive. New for 2026, we are moving to the Verkada Visitor Management System. We are making this switch to provide enhanced screening for all visitors. The new system performs instant, real-time background checks on all visitors using a simple ID scan, along with instant identification. Guests receive a printed, time-stamped badge upon check-in, making it easy to identify authorized visitors on campus. The Verkada system also provides real-time accountability. In an emergency, our security team now has an instant digital "roll call" of every visitor currently on school grounds. And for those big Project Share or performance days, you will soon be able to pre-check-in online so you can head straight to the classroom. Next time you visit, please have your driver’s license ready for a quick scan at the check-in desk.

Keeping Shorecrest safe is something we do together. Whether you’re following carline patterns or contributing to the Shorecrest Fund—which directly paid for our new fire safety lines and security tech this year—you are part of our community safety team.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. Here’s to a safe, happy and productive 2026!

All the best,

Nancy