Matthew Vander Ark
The Ezekiel Training Group exists to solve one problem: schools are not as prepared as they need to be—and most training fails when it matters most.
Founded by Matthew Vander Ark, the organization is built on a rare combination of experience that bridges education, law enforcement, and executive school leadership.
Matthew began his career as a teacher, working directly with students and faculty and gaining a clear understanding of how schools actually function day-to-day. This experience shaped his belief that any safety plan disconnected from classroom reality, relationships, and culture is destined to fail.
He then served as a deputy, operating in real-world law enforcement environments where decisions carry immediate consequences. In that role, he developed expertise in threat assessment, crisis response, and high-pressure decision-making—skills that are often missing from traditional school safety models.
Matthew later returned to education as Upper School Principal at Stillwater Christian School, where he led both academic and operational systems while strengthening campus safety. In this role, he successfully integrated security practices into the life of the school without compromising its mission—proving that safety and culture can, and must, work together.
Ezekiel Training Group is built on that intersection.
We do not provide theoretical presentations or compliance-driven checklists. We deliver scenario-based training, staff development, and strategic safety systems designed to perform in real situations—not just on paper.
Our clients partner with us because they are serious about:
Moving beyond surface-level safety plans
Training staff to respond with clarity, confidence, and leadership
Building systems that hold up under real pressure
If your goal is simply to meet minimum requirements, we are not the right fit.
If your goal is to build a school that is truly prepared, Matthew Vander Ark and the Ezekiel Training Group provide the leadership, training, and systems to make that happen.