School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, Michelle Dawn Mooney sat down with Jamison Peevyhouse, VP of Public Safety, RapidSOS. During the conversation, they discuss enhancing emergency response outcomes by securely linking life-saving data from connected devices directly to emergency services.

Key Takeaways:

• E911 Data Enhancement: Provides precise location and contextual information for quicker, more effective emergency responses in schools.

• Technology in School Safety: How the use of integrated technology, like sensors and campus maps in conjunction with enriched E911 data, leads to improved student and staff safety.

• Collaboration with Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs): How schools and districts can work with ECCs to improve safety protocols and ensure coordinated emergency responses for better outcomes.

Guest Jamison Peevyhouse is the VP of Public Safety at RapidSOS. With over 25 years of experience in public safety and 9-1-1 operations, Jamison has a long history of public service. Starting as a telecommunicator on the midnight shift, Jamison continued to serve as a trainer, supervisor, and director of operations. More recently, he served as the Statewide Training Coordinator for Tennessee, where he helped to meet the needs of the state’s 2,400+ telecommunicators. He is also a Past President of the National Emergency Number Association. Jamison’s commitment to servant-based leadership and communication skills receive many awards, including TN-APCO Director of the Year, the Senator Joe Haynes Award for Excellence, and the NENA Hall of Fame. Jamison’s life-long passion is growing a culture of compassion and collaboration within public safety organizations. He currently serves as Vice President of Public Safety for RapidSOS, which delivers life-saving customer data from 450 million devices to 9-1-1 Centers across the U.S.

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sat down with Annabelle Thomson, Program Specialist with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) Child Sex Trafficking Team, to discuss the nature and scope of child sex trafficking, misconceptions and warning signs in children, the role of educators and communities in prevention and support, as well as free resources available to help schools proactively combat this growing problem.

KEY POINTS:

• Human trafficking includes child sex trafficking and happens across the country.

• Educators play a crucial role in identifying and supporting potential victims. Warning signs include changes in behavior, unexplained possessions, and periods of missing from home or school.

• Community and school engagement, understanding students' backgrounds, and providing a safe, supportive environment.

Guest Annabelle Thomson is the Program Specialist with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) Child Sex Trafficking Team. Previously, Ms. Thomson served as an anti-trafficking subject matter expert and logistics coordinator with the national SOAR to Health and Wellness Training under the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC) which is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Office on Trafficking in Persons.

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, Michelle Dawn Mooney sat down with Natalie Mactier, CEO of Vivi International. Natalie discusses the evolution of classroom technology into an integrated school safety communication system that includes:

• Highly targeted emergency notifications and integrations with other security systems, enhancing campus safety and situational awareness.

• Using visual alerts in school safety strategies that ensure inclusivity for all students and staff, regardless of language fluency or auditory abilities.

• Customizable templates for various emergencies, like natural disasters or campus intruders ─ aligned with standard response protocols.

Guest Natalie Mactier is the Chief Executive Officer for Vivi International Pty Ltd. Her leadership has guided the development of Vivi into a multifaceted communication tool that enhances classroom learning and plays a crucial role in campus-wide emergency response systems.

She is also on the board of Webcentral Ltd. and WebCentral Group Pty Ltd. In the past, she occupied the position of Chief Executive Officer at School Places Pty Ltd., Manager-Public Relations at SEEK Ltd., Manager-National Sales at Europcar Mobility Group SA, Chief Executive Officer of Kidspot.com.au Pty Ltd., and Principal at Ansett Airlines.

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sat down with Kenya Haynes, Program Specialist at the National Center for Homeless to discuss the complexities surrounding the issue of students experiencing homelessness and the educational strategies required to address these challenges effectively.

• The critical role of local homeless education liaisons in school districts with students experiencing homelessness.

• The critical role of local homeless education liaisons in school districts to identify students experiencing homelessness and ensure they receive the necessary support to continue their education.

• The need for empathy, compassion, and individualized attention in supporting these students.

Guest Kenya Haynes is a program specialist at the National Center for Homeless Education. An educator for 25 years, she joined NCHE in 2018 after sixteen years at the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) where she focused her energy on working with vulnerable student populations. During her tenure at WDE, she worked with homeless education, dropout prevention, juvenile justice, gender equity, civil rights, school accreditation, gifted and talented education, homeschooling, Title I, and the state system of support. She is honored to have served on the board of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth and as liaison to the National Expert Panel for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk.

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sat down with Liz Nowland-Margolis, Executive Director of School Safety and District Operations for Ann Arbor Public Schools for part two of a two-part series on proactive student wellbeing through early intervention to discuss the importance of:

• Proactive approaches to school safety, including early interventions for student wellbeing and the balance between hardening school infrastructure and maintaining a welcoming environment.

• Implementation and significance of comprehensive assessment tools like the CSTAG and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, underscoring their role in early identification and support for students at risk.

• Collaboration among school staff, law enforcement, and mental health services, as well as engaging and educating parents and the community about school safety protocols.

Guest Liz Nolan-Margolis is an experienced professional with a background in marketing, communications, public relations, crisis planning, management, and response, as well as strategic planning. She has worked in both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of School Safety and District Operations for Ann Arbor Public Schools. Liz has extensive experience in crisis management, including response training, communication response, crisis response team development, and on-site crisis response leadership. Her role involves a strong focus on school safety, implementing programs, and balancing safety initiatives with the educational environment.

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sat down with Dr. Frank Straub, Senior Director of Violence Prevention Research and Programs at Safe and Sound Schools and Co-Director of the “Protect 2 Prevent” project for part one of a two-part series on proactive student wellbeing through early intervention to discuss the importance of:

• The inception and development of the “Protect 2 Prevent” program at Michigan State University, aimed at early intervention to prevent acts of violence.

• The multidisciplinary approach involving experts in the areas of psychiatry, criminology, health professionals, educators, and targeted violence experts.

• The importance of community and caregiver involvement in changing the life trajectory of high-risk adolescents towards positive and pro-social activities.

Guest Dr. Frank Straub is the Senior Director of Violence Prevention Research and Programs at Safe and Sound Schools and Co-Director of the “Protect 2 Prevent” project. He has an extensive background in law enforcement and violence prevention, serving as the founder and director of the National Policing Institute's Center for Targeted Violence Prevention and as an adjunct professor at Michigan State University. A licensed clinical psychologist with a Ph.D. in criminal justice, he's recognized for his work in youth violence prevention, improving police-community relations, and enhancing police response to mental health challenges.

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sat down with Missy Dodds, speaker and trainer for Safe and Sound Schools, a national non-profit school safety advocacy and resource center. They discussed the pivotal role parents play in advocating for and ensuring the safety of their children within the educational environment and how schools can strengthen the school-parent partnership to enhance safety.

Key Takeaways:

• Ways to build an effective school-parent partnership around school safety.

• How schools can offer tools and resources to parents to educate them about school safety and mental health support.

• Opportunities for collaborative relationship building with community organizations to enhance the support they offer to parents.

Missy also shared her personal experience of being a high school math teacher when a school shooting occurred on March 21, 2005. She discusses the traumatic events of that day and the years of healing, including dealing with PTSD.

In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sat down with Carolyn Jennings-Brown, Founder and Program Director of “Hey Dude, Nice Shoes” to discuss the importance of:

• Raising awareness about bullying and shifting the focus from merely identifying the problem to finding solutions and promoting kindness.

• How bullying has evolved over the years, especially due to the influence of social media and technology.

• Setting clear standards of behavior for children, to create safe spaces for communication, and to model pro-kindness behavior, as well as celebrating and appreciating children for who they are.

Guest Carolyn Jennings Brown is a dedicated advocate and motivational speaker for anti-bullying and pro-kindness initiatives. She travels across the United States to deliver her presentation, "Hey Dude, Nice Shoes" to students and parents, impacting thousands of lives each year. She also received the National PTA Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to school safety and mental health awareness.

Student suicide prevention is a paramount concern among mental health providers. For one organization, student suicide prevention is more than a concern: it’s their mission.

The alarming rise in mental health crises among youth has become a pressing concern in recent times. With the complexities of modern life and the challenges of the digital age, young individuals are more susceptible to mental health issues than ever before. A startling statistic reveals that in 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 10 and 34. This alarming statistic underscores the pressing need for comprehensive strategies and interventions to address the mental health crisis among young Americans.

How can we effectively address and destigmatize mental health issues, especially among marginalized communities? The Defensive Line’s mission is to end the epidemic of youth suicide, especially for people of color, by transforming how we communicate and connect about mental health.

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sat down with Chris and Martha Thomas from The Defensive Line to shed light on the rise and stigma of mental health crisis among youth and discussed the following:

• The necessity to destigmatize some of the myths about mental health, mental illness, and suicide, particularly in marginalized communities of color

• The vital role educators and communities play in recognizing the warning signs of mental health issues and suicide ideation among youth

• The urgent need to provide educational programs and workshops and advocate for a collaborative approach to understand the complete picture and help the person in need

Chris and Martha Thomas are the co-founders of The Defensive Line, dedicating themselves to suicide prevention and mental health awareness in the wake of a personal tragedy. Their endeavors span various platforms, including educational workshops and keynote speeches, aiming to foster environments of understanding and support. The couple has received recognition for their relentless work, including the 2019 AFSP Lifesaver Award.

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sat down with John-Michael Keyes, executive director and co-founder of the “I Love U Guys” Foundation to shed light on their mission, collaboration, and unique approach to training, all aimed at protecting the joy of youth. During the podcast, they discussed the following:

• The development and implementation of the Standard Response Protocol, a shared vocabulary between students, staff, and the first responders for school safety.

• Challenges and strategies for reunification of students with parents after a crisis while maintaining accountability and mental health support.

• The Foundation’s unique approach to training with insights from trainers having personal experience in crisis.

The “I Love U Guys” Foundation, was established in 2006 after John-Michael and his wife, Ellen, lost their daughter, Emily to a tragic school shooting, Emily's last text messages that day were, “I love U Guys, K” to her mother, and ”I Love U Guys” to her father, which became the catalyst for their mission to restore and protect the joy of youth through educational programs and positive actions in collaboration with families, school, communities, and government entities.