Alva L. Amaker, M.Ed., CAA, CCT is a nationally recognized school safety strategist, certified athletic administrator, and civility training expert with more than 30 years of frontline experience building crisis-resistant educational environments. Known as The Vigilant AD, she is a former volunteer EMT, current BLS Instructor Trainer, Stop the Bleed Trainer with roots in emergency response dating to 1994, LSCI Practitioner, and Psychological First Aid-certified professional trained through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

She serves as Health Education and PE Department Chair, PBIS Coordinator, and Restorative Practice Facilitator at Friendly High School in Prince George’s County Public Schools while leading four organizations: A&A Athletic Consulting, LLC; Vigilance Safety Training Center; DCPG Sports; and Vigilant AI Systems. Her work spans sports safety consulting, emergency preparedness, AI integration for athletic programs, civility and culture transformation, and organizational leadership across the DMV region with national reach.

Amaker is the creator of the G.R.A.C.E. Framework (Goodwill, Respect, Accountability, Civility, Excellence) and The Culture You Walk Past™, frameworks born from a 2008 critical incident that became her career-defining mandate: safety and civility are not separate functions. She holds certifications from the International Civility Trainers’ Consortium, NCS4 at the University of Southern Mississippi, and safeTalk Suicide Prevention, with additional training in Creating a Trauma-Sensitive School Culture, Child Trauma, Race, and Urban Identity, and Social and Emotional Learning for Physical Educators.

Recognized by Civility Worldwide for transformative program development, Amaker holds an M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership from American Intercontinental University and a B.S. from Central State University. Her message is consistent: the culture you walk past is the culture you accept.