Coffee with Kelly: A Discussion on School Safety

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, Kelly and Ethan welcome Sarah Walsh , Market Development Manager at National Safety Shelters and former educator, to discuss her firsthand experience during a real school lockdown. Together, they explore layered school safety, emergency communication, and why effective preparedness requires more than a single solution. Thanks for list...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, Kelly and Ethan tackle a range of challenging topics, from new laws holding violent juvenile offenders accountable to controversial school policies and the evolving state of school safety. They explore the role of consequences, the importance of prevention over reaction, and why solving complex safety challenges requires more than a s...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, Kelly and Ethan explore the consequences of "kids being kids," the growing trend of violence at school events, and the dangers of social media challenges. They also tackle a critical issue in school safety: the gap between having a plan and actually being prepared when a crisis unfolds.  Thanks for listening to our school sa...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we discuss the Tennessee graduation that continued through a torrential downpour, explore how one school reduced fights by more than 90%, and debate whether schools are focusing too much on high-tech response tools like drones instead of proven prevention strategies. Join us for a conversation about leadership, preparedness, and what...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, Ethan Woodman and Kelly Moore discuss what a truly unified safety strategy looks like and why disconnected systems can create dangerous gaps during emergencies. They explore situational awareness, communication, panic buttons, and the difference between collecting safety tools and building a unified safety ecosystem.  Thanks for liste...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, Kelly and Ethan explore what actually makes schools safer beyond panic buttons and security technology. From bee swarms and cybersecurity threats to an SRO stopping a potential tragedy before it escalated, the conversation dives into the human side of school safety, prevention, training, communication, and why real preparedness starts...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, Kelly and Ethan discuss unbelievable incidents happening in schools today and why districts should already be preparing for the next school year, from end-of-year events to training, communication, and emergency preparedness. Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to learn more about enhanced crisis...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, Kelly and Ethan unpack a troubling series of real-world incidents involving students bringing everything from replica weapons to loaded firearms onto school campuses.  They explore the critical question of intent, why these items are being brought in the first place, and how each situation may signal a deeper pathway to violence. From...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we unpack the rise in student-related incidents involving weapons and the tough question schools are now facing: should gun safety be part of education? We explore the role of prevention, the importance of decision-making and accountability, and what it really means to be prepared when situations escalate beyond control.  Thanks for l...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! EPISODE 100! Kelly and Ethan are joined by CrisisGo Co-Founder Jim Spicuzza to reflect on the early beginnings of CrisisGo, how school safety has evolved over the past decade, and where it’s headed next. Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to learn more about enhanced crisis management and safety communication.

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we unpack several recent school incidents involving weapons and ask a critical question: are we addressing the root causes or just reacting to the outcome? We explore the role of fear, the importance of reporting, and the warning signs that often go unnoticed, including the connection between academic stress and pathways to violence. ...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we explore how simple actions like questioning an unfamiliar visitor can prevent tragedy in schools. We also unpack how school violence is defined, why the data can be misleading, and why true safety requires a community-wide approach.  Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to learn more about enhan...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode , Kelly and Ethan explore a critical question many districts overlook: are your schools and first responders actually aligned? From off-campus threats to swatting incidents, they break down how gaps in communication and coordination can delay response and increase risk. The conversation highlights why treating school safety as a shared...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we explore recent school bus incidents that reveal a major gap in student safety before the school day even begins. From violence to neglect, the conversation challenges where responsibility truly starts. We also tackle a bigger question: if educators are expected to keep students safe, should safety training be a required part of the...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we discuss several recent incidents and what they teach us about threat progression, communication failures, and the importance of vigilance. From repeated threats in schools to violent events in the community, we explore how early awareness and collaboration can help prevent tragedies before they happen. Thanks for listening to our s...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we discuss what happens when school budgets tighten and leaders must make difficult decisions about priorities. When funding becomes uncertain, school leaders are forced to examine what truly matters for the safety of their students and staff. Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to learn more abou...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we discuss the growing relationship gap between schools, law enforcement, and community partners, and why coordination built before a crisis determines how well you respond during one. When seconds matter, trust and clarity can’t be built in real time.  Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to learn...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, Kelly and Ethan discuss student walkouts from a safety perspective. When schools take students outside controlled environments and into volatile situations, what risks are being introduced, and who is responsible if something goes wrong?  Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to learn more about enh...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, Kelly and Ethan explore why school safety continues to fall short, even decades after Columbine. They break down the overlooked role emergency managers play in building relationships, coordinating response, and preparing communities before a crisis happens. Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to l...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we explore why some of the greatest risks students face happen before they ever enter the building; on the way to school, at bus stops, and in the surrounding community. When students don’t feel safe getting to school, their behavior reflects that reality. Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to le...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we break down recent campus and public attacks to examine how people respond under stress and where leadership and communication fail. We discuss delayed alerts, prolonged lockdowns, and why hesitation can increase confusion and trauma. Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to learn more about enhan...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we kick off Season 7 by asking a hard but necessary question: have we actually advanced school safety, or have we just gotten better at responding after something goes wrong? This conversation challenges the industry’s fixation on mandates, panic buttons, and single-point solutions, and explores why true safety depends on interoperabi...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode , we examine why the days and weeks following extended school breaks consistently carry elevated risk, and why a new calendar year doesn’t automatically mean safer schools. Using a recent thwarted plot as context, the conversation breaks down warning signs, threat “leakage,” and the dangerous assumption that prevention resets after tim...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we take a hard look at leadership, accountability, and the real priorities shaping school safety. When districts say they lack time or funding to protect students and staff, where is the money actually going? This discussion unpacks the consequences of weak standards, poor stewardship, and decision-making that creates risk long before...

Share your thoughts and suggest future topics! In this episode, we unpack the hidden risks surrounding holiday breaks and why January consistently brings an increase in school violence. Listeners will learn what patterns to watch for and how to strengthen prevention and support before students return.  Thanks for listening to our school safety podcast! Check out CrisisGo.com to learn more about en...