School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso interviews guest expert Will Durgin to discuss the newly released Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) Report from the National Threat Assessment Center and Homeland Security. They explore how this report differs from previous NTAC publications—shifting from analyzing individual incidents to examining systemwide practices across more than 1,700 principals. The conversation emphasizes the importance of early identification of concerning behaviors, meaningful parent engagement, the necessity of consistent training, and the critical role of data collection in improving school safety practices. The episode underscores that threat assessment is not a discipline tool, but a preventive, intervention-focused process designed to keep students on a positive pathway.

KEY POINTS:

1. The new BTAM report shifts from analyzing individual incidents to examining systems and processes.

2. Schools need stronger structures for lower-level concerns, parent engagement, and ongoing training.

3. Data collection and consistent review are major improvement opportunities.

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.

In this special episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso interviews several education and safety leaders live from the Raptor 2025 SchoolSAFE Conference. Rachael Freeman (Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD), Jason Overbay (Sarasota County Schools), Marti Neahring (West Aurora School District), Dr. Penny Schultz (Chesapeake City Schools), and Todd Brendel (Dayton Schools, KY) share how the conference helps them manage the “messy” realities of school safety. They highlight the power of collaboration and networking with peers who truly understand their roles, the importance of relationship-based safety and the way high-quality training and keynotes renew their sense of hope and purpose. Across their stories, the Raptor SchoolSAFE Conference emerges as both a practical learning environment and an emotional reset, giving safety leaders fresh tools, trusted connections, and renewed energy to protect students and staff.

KEY POINTS:

• Collaborating and networking with colleagues committed to addressing the same school safety concerns,
• Learning about emerging trends and effective approaches to improving school safety.
• An inspiring experience that restores motivation, fosters hope, and strengthens your commitment to the work.

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Adam Coughran, founder of Safe Kids, Inc., about how private and faith-based schools can strengthen safety practices despite limited resources.

KEY POINTS:

Physical systems, community engagement, and knowledge must work together for effective protection

Safety starts with everyday awareness, clear communication, and shared responsibility—not fear-based tactics

Private schools benefit from identifying knowledgeable partners, simplifying resources, and reframing safety as student wellness

Adam Coughran is an industry leader in safety and security training for schools, businesses, and organizations. Adam is a veteran of Southern California law enforcement who utilized his expertise to found Safe Kids Inc. in 2016. He’s been recognized as one of the “Go-To” experts for national media outlets, appearing on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, FOX’s Nancy Grace, HLN’s MichaeLA, CBS This Morning, and numerous live interviews in addition to being a contributing author to Newsweek Magazine.

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.

In this episode of School Safety Today, Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Dr. Melissa Mariani to explore school bullying prevention strategies, highlighting whole-school approaches, early intervention, and the power of positive climate in creating safer learning environments.

KEY POINTS:

Bullying erodes both physical and emotional safety, affecting school and community culture.

Prevention, intervention, and post-vention require a whole-school, systemic approach.

Positive climate, early warning signs, and supportive adult relationships are critical.

Melissa Mariani, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselor Education, specializing in School Counseling. Dr. Mariani’s research and scholarship focus on student success, school climate, school counseling interventions, outcome research, school safety and crisis response, and collaboration between higher education and K-12 institutions. Throughout her career, Dr. Mariani has served as a Project Manager for three Elementary and Secondary School Counseling grants, where she played a pivotal role in assisting various districts in the development, implementation, and maintenance of comprehensive school counseling programs based on the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Model. Dr. Mariani regularly provides professional development and training to school staff on a wide range of topics. Dr. Mariani is a lead researcher and national trainer for the Student Success Skills curriculum (www.studentsuccessskills.com) and co-developer of SSS for SEL Success. She also co-authored the book Facilitating Evidence-Based, Data-Driven School Counseling: A Manual for Practice.

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.

In this episode of School Safety Today, Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Jana French of Crisis Text Line about the essential role the organization plays in supporting mental health, especially among students during the back-to-school season. They explore how Crisis Text Line empowers individuals to define their own crises, the impact of strategic school partnerships, and how to promote mental well-being in school communities. The conversation also addresses common misconceptions about crisis services and highlights accessible tools for both individuals and institutions.

KEY POINTS:

• Crisis Text Line provides support to people in distress by allowing them to text 741741 for help.
• The individual determines what counts as a crisis, whether it's a breakup or a suicidal situation.
• Crisis Text Line partners with schools providing access to customized reports and resources.

Jana French is the Community Partnerships Director at Crisis Text Line, where she leads a team of 3 in building and managing strategic partnerships with community organizations, such as nonprofits, governments, and educational institutions. These critical partnerships assist Crisis Text Line in reaching more people who need mental health and crisis services, recruit new volunteers, and generate revenue for the organization. Jana also manages the organization's work with 988, the national suicide prevention hotline, ensuring compliance and coordination with federal and state agencies. With over 7 years of experience in nonprofit partnerships, Jana has a passion for creating social impact and improving mental health outcomes.

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso is joined by Allison Rone from Epilepsy Alliance Ohio and Tina Hegner from PublicSchoolWORKS to discuss the importance of epilepsy and seizure training for school staff. They explore how proper education, planning, and partnerships are vital to keeping students—and all members of a school community—safe and supported.

KEY POINTS:

• Epilepsy affects 1 in 26 people, and 1 in 10 will experience a seizure, making training essential for anyone working in schools.

• Training ensures that educators not only stay compliant with state laws but are also confident in responding to seizures.
• Tools like seizure action plans, rescue medication protocols, and on-demand training videos provide actionable resources that improve response times.

Allison Rone is a Community Educator at Epilepsy Alliance Ohio, where she provides epilepsy education and awareness to schools, law enforcement, and community groups. With two years at EAO and nine years of prior law enforcement experience, Allison is dedicated to building community understanding of epilepsy and teaching others how to recognize and respond to seizures.

Tina Hegner leads the research and course development team at PublicSchoolWORKS, overseeing the creation of engaging, evidence-based safety and compliance courses for K-12 schools. With over 25 years in content creation and more than 13 years focused on school safety, Tina ensures the company’s programs meet regulatory standards and drive positive behavior change, helping establish PublicSchoolWORKS as a leader in the field.

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso talks with TJ Markland, General Manager of Payments at Raptor Technologies, to discuss the often-overlooked safety challenges of school events—from daytime assemblies to Friday night football. As schools work to balance hospitality with security, TJ shares how digital tools are helping them plan smarter, monitor more effectively, and respond faster. With the right technology in place, schools can move beyond reactive protocols and start designing safer, more seamless event experiences for students, families, and the community.

KEY POINTS:

• Why the same safety protocols used during the school day should apply to everything from small assemblies to Friday night football.
• How tools like geo-fenced check-ins, AI, and digital ticketing give schools real-time visibility, faster response, and tighter control over events.
• How data acts as a quiet partner in school safety, revealing patterns that help schools predict risks, deploy staff more effectively, and make each event safer than the last.

Our guest, TJ Markland, is a leading authority in school payment systems and event safety. He has spent time building integrated payment gateways for SaaS platforms, making it easier for businesses to process transactions. Previously, TJ was the General Manager of PayK12, a cloud-based solution that simplifies school payments and financial management, now part of the Raptor Platform. Over more than five years at PayK12, he was instrumental in enhancing the platform’s features, with a strong emphasis on minimizing risk and boosting efficiency for schools. Currently, as General Manager of Payments, TJ has helped launch Raptor’s latest innovation, EventSafe™, which enables school staff to plan and manage events—such as assemblies, performances, and parent visits—while maintaining a high standard of campus safety.

Ray Fuller, Coordinator of Threat Assessment and Safety at Texas' Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, talks threat assessment.

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Vincent Iturralde, Chief Operations Officer for North Chicago School District 187. Dr. Iturralde shares insights from his educational journey, emphasizing the need for schools to update emergency response protocols, strengthen communication systems, and prioritize collaboration over mere compliance to ensure the safety of students and staff. Through real-world examples, he illustrates the challenges of reunification efforts and underscores the critical role of proactive planning.

KEY POINTS:

• Emergency management is more than drills and compliance—it is critical all stakeholders understand the why.

• Reunification planning is complex and must be practiced and continued to be refined.

• Emergency management is bigger than one person and collaboration is key to success.

Our guest, Dr. Vincent Iturralde is the Chief Operations Officer for North Chicago School District 187 and oversees the district’s operations, security, facilities, and school leadership. Dr. Iturralde has proven experience as an Educational Leadership Consultant, a Transformational Coordinator for North Chicago School District 187, a Leadership Coach for the University of Illinois Center for Urban Education Leadership, and a Part-Time Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign and Concordia University. Before these positions, Dr. Iturralde was the founding principal of the Tarkington School of Excellence in Chicago, IL. He has his Educational Doctorate and Master of Education from the University of Illinois in Chicago. He was an educator in the Chicago Public Schools system for 20 years as a teacher, technology coordinator and school improvement coordinator. In 2008, Dr. Iturralde became a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and, in 2009, received the Re-Generation Award for Excellence in Environmental Education from the U. S. Department of Green Building Council. 

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso interviews Shawn Toadvine, Manager of Student Programs, Client Services, PublicSchoolWORKS. The discussion emphasizes that anonymous reporting is not just a compliance tool but a critical element in school safety and student well-being.

KEY POINTS:

• Fostering a culture of trust is essential for anonymous reporting to work effectively.

• Comprehensive training ensures educators, students, and parents understand how to use the system and the process for follow-up.

• Anonymous reporting addresses not only threats but also student mental health and well-being.

Our guest, Shawn Toadvine is an accomplished professional serving as the Manager of Student Programs at PublicSchoolWORKS since 2013. With a background in theatre, he holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Northern Kentucky University and later pursued a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Cincinnati. Drawing from his experience as an administrator, Shawn brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role, developing meaningful programs that positively impact students' lives. His dedication to education and commitment to excellence make him an invaluable asset to the Raptor pack!