Collaboration Benefits MU, Pennsylvania School Boards Association

Nearly 150 school board directors and school leaders are more prepared to address AI and school safety issues thanks to a partnership between Millersville University and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

After an introduction from Richard Frerichs '64, '69M, Millersville University Council of Trustees member and former president of PSBA, it did not take long for the two organizations to realize the positive outcomes that could be reached through collaboration.

"President Wubah and I had a meeting with some folks from PSBA," says Dr. Victor DeSantis, vice president for university relations and strategic initiatives, "after which, we shared a lunch and began to conceptualize how Millersville could contribute to the programs PSBA offered its member school districts."

"When we began exploring opportunities with Millersville University, we immediately recognized a shared commitment to supporting public education in Pennsylvania," says Dr. Britta Barrickman, PSBA chief impact officer. "By combining Millersville's academic expertise with PSBA's understanding of the needs of school leaders, we were able to create meaningful professional learning opportunities that address some of the most pressing issues facing schools today."

It was agreed that PSBA would handle registration for the joint programs and Millersville would help with curriculum development and host courses on its learning platform, D2L. The two organizations would then share the revenue after costs.

There were other benefits for Millersville, according to DeSantis. "The partnership provides training for adult learners, one of our strategic objectives. It also allows us to showcase our faculty expertise in emerging areas of critical need for Pennsylvania, and it serves an audience that can be influential when students are choosing a college."

The first course that resulted from this collaboration was School Safety Preparedness, a cohort-based offering developed by Duane Hagelgans, coordinator for Millersville's undergraduate and graduate emergency management programs, and a team from the Pennsylvania School Safety Institute, an affiliate of PSBA.

Designed to teach school employees the basics of disaster and safety planning, response, mitigation and recovery, the course is delivered via a blended format: asynchronous work, synchronous online meetings and a day using the simulator at PennSSI. There, participants practice responses to a variety of scenarios catered to their profession, whether they are district leaders, professional and support staff, security personnel or law enforcement officials. The 5,000-square-foot training center is equipped with audiovisual capabilities that allow teams to review their actions and discuss alternative approaches as they navigate interactive scenarios projected on the 360-degree smart screens or in the multiroom simulated school building.

The second course that was created was Foundational AI for School Leaders, which was offered beginning in the summer of 2025. Dr. Ollie Dreon, a professor in the Department of Educational Foundations at Millersville, led the content development alongside PSBA staff.

Five cohorts have gone through the joint program, which assists "school leaders with developing the knowledge, skills and dispositions to learn about, learn with, and lead with AI. Participants explore how AI can enhance decision-making, optimize administrative processes, and support teaching and learning while addressing ethical, safety, and privacy considerations."

At the completion of both the safety and AI courses, participants earn a certificate.

"Our members are looking for practical, high-quality learning experiences that help them navigate an increasingly complex educational landscape," says Barrickman. "These programs provide participants with actionable knowledge they can bring back to their districts, whether they are strengthening school safety practices or developing thoughtful approaches to the use of artificial intelligence. The strong participation we've seen demonstrates the value these courses provide to school leaders across the commonwealth."

"Microcredentials like these are an important part of our mix of programming," says DeSantis. "We are growing this part of our portfolio while providing workforce development and serving our mission. We will continue to develop partnerships with organizations like PSBA that are mission-aligned and share a passion for advancing K-12 education."