School Safety Today

In this episode of School Safety Today, presented by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Jackson Erdos—American Ninja Warrior competitor, coach, and mental health advocate—about the mental health challenges student athletes face. Drawing from his own experiences, Jackson shares how competition, identity, and vulnerability intersect, highlighting why open conversations, strong supp...

In this episode of the Principles of Change podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Lynda Garinger, principal of Hopewell Middle School in Round Rock, Texas, to explore what school safety looks like throughout the entire school day. Their conversation examines the routines, systems, and relationships that support a safe learning environment. KEY POINTS: 1. Sch...

In this episode, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Alejandra Monroy, Prevention Program Manager for Outreach and Prevention at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), about the realities of internet safety and how adults can better support children navigating online spaces. The conversation emphasizes that online safety is not achieved through rules and parental controls alon...

In this episode of the Principles of Change podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso talks with Marie-Pier Ingraham, principal of Good Shepherd Catholic School in Maryland. The conversation explores how schools can create environments where students feel genuinely safe, supported, and known through strong relationships, emotional well-being, and meaningful family partnerships...

In this episode, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Elisa Mula, founder and CEO of EM Designs, about the realities of grant funding for school safety and how schools can better position themselves to secure critical resources. The conversation highlights that school safety funding should be approached as part of an ongoing security effort, with schools continuously evaluating risks, leveraging free r...

In this episode of the Principles of Change podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso talks with Tim Dykes, Assistant Principal for Culture and Climate at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. The conversation highlights how strong relationships, student voice, and steady long-term leadership can help schools build environments where people feel safe and want to be. KEY POIN...

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Chris Noell, Chief Product Officer at Raptor Technologies, and Will Durgin, Director of Student Well-Being, about the vision behind StudentSafe and how it helps schools move from reactive responses to proactive student support. Together, they emphasize that safer schools depend on giving staff the tools to identify patterns ea...

On Principles of Change, a podcast by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Miguel Salazar, principal of Sundown Middle School in Sundown, Texas, to explore how one rural district is redefining school safety through culture, systems, and human connection. Together, they unpack how proactive frameworks, community values, and intentional relationship-building can transform scho...

School Safety Today podcast , presented by Raptor Technologies . In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso interviews SRO Todd Brendel of Dayton Independent Schools (KY) , who shares frontline insights on the importance of knowing where students and staff are throughout the school day. He explains how they manage student movement, visibility, and accountabi...

School Safety Today podcast , presented by Raptor Technologies . In this episode of Principals of Change, hos t Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with D’Jon Pitchford , Assistant Principal at Kelly Lane Middle School in Pflugerville ISD , to explore what school safety really means. Pitchford reframes safety as more than physical security—emphasizing trust, restorative practices, campus culture, and the imp...

School Safety Today podcast , presented by Raptor Technologies . In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Penny Schultz , Assistant Director of School Safety and Security at Chesapeake Public Schools , to unpack the often-misunderstood role of School Resource Officers (SROs). The conversation highlights how effective SROs function not just as law enforcement,...

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies . In this episode of Principals of Change , host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Jeff Bryant, Principal of Jefferson Middle School , and David Sally , Associate Principal of West Aurora High School , to explore how effective school safety goes far beyond drills and locked doors. Drawing on decades of experience, both leaders emphasize tha...

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies . In this episode of School Safety Today , host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Kelly Brickl, a trainer with SPEAK UP, in recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. During the conversation, Brickl shares data, real-world warning signs, and explains how age-appropriate, research-based prevention curricula can empower students...

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 anal...

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 S...

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 star...

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, aff...

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 stra...

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 supporte...

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 shar...

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 complianc...

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...

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Lea Bauer, an expert in threat assessment and protective intelligence. Lea highlights the value of incorporating a student's digital world into threat assessments and offers schools practical guidance and resources for success. She also provides guidance on how to build and maintain trust with various stakeholders.  &nbsp...

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Michele Gay, co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools, about the critical role of learning from averted school violence incidents. Michele highlights the importance of the Averted School Violence (ASV) Project, a unique resource that collects and analyzes "saves"—instances where school tragedies were successfully prevented. Drawin...