Main Menu

2026 Event Speakers

Emily Bodner, Manager, Safety Advisory Services, PublicSchoolWORKS

Emily Bodner

Manager, Safety Advisory Services, PublicSchoolWORKS

Lori Braseth, CSP Program Manager, Raptor Technologies

Lori Braseth

CSP Program Manager, Raptor Technologies

Randy Braverman, School Safety and Threat Assessment Specialist, West40 ISC #2

Randy Braverman

School Safety and Threat Assessment Specialist, West40 ISC #2

Nick Caputo, Director of Safety & Security, Chesterfield County Public Schools

Nick Caputo is the Director of School Safety & Security for Chesterfield County Public Schools, where he leads the development of a comprehensive, technology-enabled school safety and security program for one of Virginia's largest school divisions. He brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning military aviation, law enforcement, education, and school security.

Before joining Chesterfield County Public Schools, Caputo served as the Division Coordinator for School Safety & Security for Lynchburg City Schools, where he built and led the district's Campus Safety Department. His work included developing a layered security model integrating School Security Officers, security operations center capabilities, weapons detection, gunshot detection, video analytics, access control, emergency communications, and other emerging technologies. He also led major capital and security technology initiatives and strengthened partnerships with law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Caputo previously served as a U.S. Army Aviation Officer and helicopter pilot, spent eight years in the Army National Guard, and served ten years in law enforcement. He also served as Program Director at Valley Forge Military Academy & College.

A recognized leader in school safety, Caputo has been a featured speaker at national security conferences and received the NASRO Chief Nick Derzis Safe School Leadership Award in 2026. He is the author of Layered Defense: A Modern Framework for School Safety, a practical framework for integrating people, processes, technology, emergency preparedness, and response into a comprehensive school safety ecosystem.

His work focuses on advancing school safety through layered defense, operational readiness, innovation, and strong partnerships—while keeping the educational mission at the center of every security decision.

Nick Caputo

Director of Safety & Security, Chesterfield County Public Schools, District #7

Vince Corrado, Community & Learning Program Manager, Raptor Technologies

Vince Corrado

Community & Learning Program Manager, Raptor Technologies

Dr. Courtney Currin, Assistant Superintendent of HR and Operations, Granville County School District

Dr. Courtney Currin has spent her entire career in Granville County Public Schools. She believes that the purpose of education is to help all students reach their potential by engaging in rigorous coursework that creates critical thinkers and lifelong learners. She has spent her career engaging in the collaborative processes of goal setting, planning, teaching, assessing, and reflecting to guide teachers and students in gaining the skills they need to fulfill these purposes. To her, the safety of both students and staff is a top priority in this work.

After graduating from the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program at Meredith College in 2004, Courtney served as a high school English teacher at J.F. Webb High School for 8 years. She was recognized by her peers through A+ Awards and earned her National Board Certification. She earned a Master of School Administration degree from North Carolina State University in 2012 and became an assistant principal at Northern Granville Middle School. In her first principalship at Butner-Stem Elementary in 2015, she led the school from low-performing to exceeding growth. Courtney then served as principal of Tar River Elementary, where she led the school's transition to project-based learning. She has served on district-level task forces for safety and security, reimagining schooling, and district budget development. She was honored to be the district's Principal of the Year for 2021. Since July 2021, Courtney has transitioned to district leadership, serving first as the Director of Federal Compliance and Personnel, then as Executive Director of Human Resources and Public Information Officer, and currently as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Operations and Public Information Officer.

Courtney doesn't just believe students should be lifelong learners; she believes she should be as well. She has participated in a multitude of professional learning activities, including Distinguished Leadership in Practice, the Education Policy Fellowship Program, Mastering Leadership Dynamics for Educational Leaders, Google Level 1 and 2 Certification, and Aspiring Superintendent programs. She currently serves on the steering committee for the Personnel Administrators of North Carolina (PANC).

Courtney's favorite aspects of education are its unpredictability and constant problem-solving. She truly thinks every educator could write a best-selling book about seemingly unbelievable experiences. One of her catchphrases is, “You can't make this stuff up!”

Courtney also believes that serving her community should go beyond her work in the school system. To this end, she has served with the Granville County Chamber on its Leadership Granville Steering Committee, Granville Education Foundation, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Grove Youth Council, and Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Lil' Sprouts nursery.

Courtney has been married to her husband, Brian, for 22 years. She has a son, Peyton, a freshman at High Point University, and a daughter, Tess, a sophomore at Granville Early College High School.

Dr. Courtney Currin
Assistant Superintendent of HR and Operations, Granville County School District

Brandon Delvo, CTE Marketing Director, Williston Basin School District #7

Brandon Delvo is a marketing educator, historian, living history interpreter, and U.S. Army veteran based in Williston, North Dakota. He teaches marketing and career and technical education at Williston High School, helping students develop practical skills in marketing, business, social media, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. Brandon is also a National Park Service Ranger at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site in the Summer and the founder of Bonetraill Consulting, where he combines his interests in history, interpretation, veterans, and community heritage. His work focuses on connecting education, history, and service to help students and communities better understand and engage with their shared heritage.

Brandon Delvo

Brandon Delvo

CTE Marketing Director, Williston Basin School District #7

Carson Den Dulk, Senior Professional Services Engineer, Raptor Technologies

Carson Den Dulk

Senior Professional Services Engineer, Raptor Technologies

Nursing & Student Safety Coordinator, Williston Basin School District #7

Lynn Douglas RN, MSN, serves as the Nurse and Student Safety Coordinator for Williston Basin School District #7 and brings more than 30 years of experience in the nursing profession. Her career reflects a deep commitment to advancing student health, safety, and academic success by effectively bridging healthcare and education within the K–12 setting.

Lynn’s clinical background includes medical-surgical nursing and extensive experience in nursing education as a former instructor at Williston State College. She is also an American Heart Association Instructor, providing CPR, AED, and first aid training to staff to strengthen emergency preparedness and lifesaving response within the school community.

In her current leadership role, she focuses on implementing evidence-based safety initiatives, supporting professional development for school health staff, and ensuring high standards of care for both students and employees across the district.

She currently serves as Chairman of the District Reunification Committee, helping guide safety planning and emergency preparedness efforts. Lynn has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to school health and safety, including being nominated for the Duane Kuehn Award through the North Dakota Safety Health Conference, nominee for Best of the Best Nurse of Williston and a nominee for America’s Best in Medicine, Nurse Edition. She has also been awarded the Citizens Humanitarian Award for saving a life through emergency medical response in the school setting.

Lynn is widely respected for her clinical expertise, collaborative leadership style, and dedication to fostering safe, healthy learning environments for students and staff.

Outside of her professional role, Lynn has been married to her husband, Fred, for 35 years and is the proud mother of four daughters.

Lynn Douglas

Lynn Douglas

Nursing & Student Safety Coordinator, Williston Basin School District #7

Dr. Emily Dunker, Assistant Principal, Pine-Richland School District

drill-manager icon

Dr. Emily Dunker

Assistant Principal, Pine-Richland School District

Dr. Will Durgin, Director, Student Wellbeing Practice Leader, Raptor Technologies

William_Durgin_Raptor.jpg

Dr. Will Durgin

Director, Student Wellbeing Practice Leader, Raptor Technologies

Kendra Estes

Kendra Estes

Ben Fernandez, School Psychologist/Crisis Intervention Specialist Safe and Sound Schools

Benjamin S. Fernandez, MS. Ed, is a lead school psychologist in Northern Virginia with 23 years of experience. He oversees psychological and mental health services, coordinates crisis teams, and implements crisis interventions. As a PREPaRE WS1 and WS2 master trainer, he trains school psychologists, interns, social workers, and counselors.

Mr. Fernandez has contributed to presentations, articles, books, and webinars on youth suicide and school safety. He conducts workshops on school safety and crisis response and has testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Federal Commission on School Safety.

He was named School Psychologist of the Year by both the Virginia Academy of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). He received the NASP Presidential Award in 2015 and 2018 and leads professional development for NASP's School Safety and Crisis Response Committee.

Ben Fernandez

School Psychologist/Crisis Intervention Specialist
Safe and Sound Schools

Dr. Quentin Fretwell, Retired Director of Student Relations DeKalb County School District

Dr. Quentin Fretwell is the retired Director of the Department of Student Relations for the DeKalb County School District. Currently, he is a part-time administrator for DeKalb Schools, a facilitator for Metro RESA, and provides consulting services.

Quentin's career includes 30+ years working in student behavior, discipline, school safety, emergency preparedness, and attendance. He has co-authored articles on student bullying, alternative education, and pandemic planning, and has presented at several local, state, and regional conferences.

Quentin received his Bachelor's, Master's, Educational Specialist, and Ph.D. degrees from Georgia State University. His dissertation work was on student bullying and the perceptions, thoughts, and beliefs of school administrators, and was named Most Outstanding Ph.D. Student.

In 2015, Quentin was selected for the School Based Leader Hero Award associated with the Auburn University Anti-Bullying Summit. In addition, he is the crafter and facilitator of the DeKalb County School District's "Bullying Stops Here!" Awareness Campaign.

Dr-Quentins
Dr. Quentin Fretwell

Retired Director of Student Relations
DeKalb County School District

Nicole Gabriel, District Security Specialist, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District

Nicole Gabriel serves as the District Security Specialist for Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, supporting district wide safety initiatives with a focus on security procedures and regulatory compliance. Her district serves approximately 23,000 students, 5,000 staff members and 3,000 volunteers across 35 buildings in Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Arlington and Ft. Worth.

She collaborates with district leadership, campus administrators, and technology teams to ensure safety practices meet state and district requirements. Nicole also manages security project implementation and facilitates training for all district staff to promote preparedness, effective response, and secure learning environments.

Nicole Gabriel

District Security Specialist, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District

Michele Gay, Founder & Executive Director
Safe and Sound Schools

Michele Gay, Co-founder and Executive Director, Safe and Sound Schools

Mother, educator, and co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools, Michele Gay chose to take action after losing her daughter Josephine Grace in the tragedy at Sandy Hook School on December 14, 2012. Since that time, Michele has built a legacy in her daughter's honor, channeling her work as an advocate to improve safety and security in schools and communities across our country.

Now a nationally and internationally recognized public speaker and school safety advocate, Michele reaches diverse audiences with her powerful message of resilience and hope. Michele works diligently to unite stakeholders of all disciplines and perspectives around a comprehensive, sustainable, and proactive approach to crisis prevention, response, and recovery, ensuring that every school, every child, and every community is truly safe and sound.

Michele Gay

Founder & Executive Director
Safe & Sound Schools

Dr. Amy Grosso, Director, Expert in Residence, Raptor Technologies

Dr. Grosso is a highly accomplished professional with a Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, more than 15 years of experience and a passion for student wellbeing. Dr. Grosso provides in-depth subject knowledge, technical expertise, industry-specific guidance and support on requirements, and helps validate the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of project outputs.

At Round Rock ISD, she led the creation of the Behavioral Health Services Department, overseeing a team of social workers providing vital support to students and families. Dr. Grosso pioneered the threat assessment process, creating a safe environment for over 46,000 students. She also updated suicide protocols district-wide, implementing evidence-based practices. Nationally, Dr. Grosso serves on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's National Chapter Leadership Council, contributing to suicide prevention efforts.

Dr. Amy Grosso

Director
Expert in Residence
Raptor Technologies

Pat Hamilton, Alliance Director
"I Love U Guys" Foundation

Pat Hamilton serves as the Alliance Director for The “I Love U Guys” Foundation. Bringing over two decades of leadership and operational experience in public education—including a 23-year tenure at Adams 12 Five Star Schools, where he served as Chief Operating Officer.

Pat offers a practitioner-focused perspective on school safety, emergency preparedness, crisis response, and student reunification.
As Alliance Director, Pat builds strategic partnerships that expand the Foundation’s mission to protect the joy of youth by helping schools, districts, first responders, and safety organizations align around common language and proven practices for crisis response and reunification

Pat Hamilton

Alliance Director
The “I Love U Guys” Foundation

Molly Bradley Hudgens, Owner, Molly B. Hudgens Communications

Molly Bradley Hudgens is a 1998 and 2000 graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Allied Language Arts and a Master of Arts in Education degree in Counseling. She is currently completing her twenty-sixth year as an educator in the Cheatham County School System, where she serves as a school counselor at Sycamore Middle School in Pleasant View, Tennessee. In addition to her counseling role, Mrs. Hudgens serves on the school's Crisis Management and Leadership Teams and sponsors the Jr. Beta Society.

During her tenure in education, Hudgens has served as president of the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and is an active member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She was also the writer of an NFL Play 60 Super School Grant for Sycamore Middle School.

Following a personal experience in college, her interest in violence prevention and school safety inspired her to educate others who work with potentially violent teenagers. Her nationally recognized training, Recognizing Red Flags, has been used to educate professionals in education, law enforcement, juvenile probation, and juvenile court. The program focuses on understanding the three types of school shooters and using threat assessment tools to intervene before violence occurs in schools and communities.

Mrs. Hudgens put that training into practice on September 28, 2016, when she successfully talked a student with a loaded handgun out of committing a mass shooting at Sycamore Middle School. For her actions, she received the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation's Citizens Honor for a Single Act of Heroism in 2017. She is also the recipient of the Tennessee School Counseling Association's Phoebe White Award for Excellence in School Counseling and the Mental Health of the Mid-South I.C. Hope Award for advancing mental health awareness in schools.

Hudgens has received multiple state recognitions for her heroic actions, including honors from the Tennessee House of Representatives and Tennessee State Senate. She has also been nominated for the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission and the American Hero Channel's Red Bandanna Hero Award and was inducted into the Cheatham County Arts and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2023.

She is a member of the Professional Educators of Tennessee, the Tennessee School Counseling Association, and the American School Counseling Association. She also serves as treasurer and choir member at Friendship Church. As Tennessee's first Congressional Medal of Honor Citizens Honor recipient, her story is featured at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga, where she also serves on the Advisory Board.

Mrs. Hudgens is the owner of Molly B. Hudgens Communications and is an internationally recognized motivational speaker and violence prevention specialist. Her book, Saving Sycamore: The School Shooting That Never Happened, published in 2020 by Dave Burgess Consulting, chronicles the events of September 28, 2016. She is also a speaker for Safe and Sound Schools through Kirkland Productions.

Molly resides in Ashland City, Tennessee, with her husband, Jason, and their sons, Bradley and Henry, on the family's farm.

Molly Bradley Hudgens

Owner, Molly B. Hudgens Communications

Doug Hunt, Associate Director, Bright Futures

Doug Hunt serves as the Associate Director of Bright Futures, bringing a powerful blend of lived experience, entrepreneurial leadership, and unwavering hope to his work. A survivor of a traumatic childhood marked by physical and psychological abuse, Doug's journey is defined by perseverance and a refusal to give up—even in his darkest moments.

After enduring profound personal and professional loss following the 2011 Joplin tornado, he launched a consulting practice focused on business coaching and personal development, earning national recognition for his message of resilience.

Rooted in gratitude, attitude, and purpose, Doug's presentations inspire audiences to transform adversity into action. With a pay-it-forward mindset, he equips students, leaders, and communities with practical tools to build hope, cultivate resilience, and pursue lives of meaning and impact.

Doug Hunt

Associate Director
Bright Futures

Nick James

Nick James

Parker LaBoiteaux, Manager, Client Services, PublicSchoolWORKS

Parker LaBoiteaux
Manager, Client Services, PublicSchoolWORKS

Megan Lewis, School Nurse & Student Wellness Advocate, Williston Basin School District #7

Megan Lewis is a school nurse with the Williston Basin School District in Williston, North Dakota. She is passionate about school safety and ensuring staff feel prepared, supported, and confident when responding to emergencies. In her role, Megan works closely with administrators, teachers, nurses, and support staff to strengthen communication and emergency preparedness across the school setting. She is an advocate for the use of Raptor SchoolSAFE’s Team Assist function and promotes its use as an effective way for staff to quickly communicate a need for assistance. Megan believes tools like Team Assist are especially valuable in schools, where timely communication and getting the appropriate support to the right location can make a meaningful difference. She brings a school nurse’s perspective to school safety, with a focus on practical strategies that help staff respond confidently when it matters most.

Megan Lewis, BSN, RN

School Nurse & Student Wellness Advocate, Williston Basin School District #7

Steven MacDonald

Steven MacDonald

Katey McPherson, Director of Community Outreach

Katey McPherson is a digital wellness advocate and educator specializing in the intersection of student behavior, digital environments, and school safety. With more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, guidance counselor, school administrator, and educational consultant, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to youth risk identification, digital behavior analysis, and school-based intervention strategies.

Recognizing gaps in traditional approaches to student wellness and safety, Katey developed a framework that integrates digital behavior patterns, mental health indicators, and school threat assessment practices.

She currently serves as Director of Community Outreach for a leading school safety app and has led community and statewide initiatives focused on youth suicide prevention, teen violence prevention, and mental health advocacy throughout Arizona.

Katey is the proud mother of four teenage daughters, a role she considers her most important.

Katey McPherson
Director of Community Outreach

Arsalan Mumtaz, Product Manager, Raptor Technologies

Arsalan Mumtaz

Product Manager, Raptor Technologies

Marti Neahring, Executive Director for Student and Family Services for West Aurora School District 129

Marti Neahring serves as the Executive Director for Student and Family Services for West Aurora School District 129. In her role, she is responsible for managing school safety and security procedures, supporting all district buildings with student disciplinary and attendance matters, alternative education options, and overseeing the student enrollment and residency processes.

Marti is focused on building positive relationships with all district stakeholders, as well as working closely with law enforcement and emergency management services to provide safe and healthy school environments.

She has served on the executive boards of the Northern Illinois School Safety Administrators Association and Aurora Area Crime Stoppers. She is also a current member of Raptor Technologies' Customer Advisory Board.

Marti holds a bachelor's degree in Special Education from Western Illinois University and a Director of Special Education endorsement from the University of St. Francis, as well as a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Aurora University.

Marti Neahring headshot
Marti Neahring

Executive Director for Student and Family Services, West Aurora School District 129

Jason Overbay, Director, Office of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management, Sarasota County Schools

Jason Overbay

Director, Office of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management, Sarasota County Schools

Zoey Pierce, Security Operations Supervisor, Huntsville City Schools

Zoey Pierce

Security Operations Supervisor, Huntsville City Schools

Chris Porter, Director, Product Management, Raptor Technologies

Chris Porter

Director, Product Management, Raptor Technologies

Greg Porter, Director of Security, School Safety, and Emergency Preparedness Greenville County School District

Greg Porter

Director of Security, School Safety, and Emergency Preparedness
Greenville County School District

Jonathan Pratt, Chief Technology Officer, Murrieta Valley Unified School District

Jonathan Pratt
Chief Technology Officer, Murrieta Valley Unified School District

Dr. Kate Rahi, Associate Director of Projects & Training
Safe and Sound Schools

Dr. Kate Rahi is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a focus in violence prevention, behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM), and crisis response. With a career spanning education, law enforcement, and federal violence prevention initiatives, she has worked on the front lines of threat assessment in schools, served as a mental health clinician on a police co-responder team, and led strategic violence prevention efforts through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Dr. Rahi earned her Ph.D. in Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, with research focused on the implementation and effectiveness of K–12 threat assessment programs. She has designed and launched school-based BTAM programs, delivered cross-disciplinary training to professionals nationwide, and advised local, state, and federal leaders on evidence-based, sustainable approaches to targeted violence prevention.

She currently serves as Associate Director of Projects & Training at Safe and Sound Schools and manages the Averted School Violence Project.

Dr. Kate Rahi

Associate Director of
Projects & Training
Safe and Sound Schools

Marisa Randazzo, Executive Director of Threat Assessment, Raptor Technologies

Dr. Marisa Randazzo, Ph.D. is the Executive Director for Threat Assessment at Raptor Technologies and brings extensive expertise and experience in threat assessment, threat management, school shootings, and other types of targeted violence and protective intelligence investigations. Previously, she co-founded and led SIGMA Threat Management Associates LLC and served as Executive Director of Threat Management at Ontic.

Dr. Randazzo also served for ten years with the U.S. Secret Service, eventually as the agency's Chief Research Psychologist where she co-directed the Safe School Initiative and co-developed the NTAC model, also known as the “federal model” for school threat assessment. Dr. Randazzo is a recognized author of four influential books on threat assessment in educational settings, widely referenced in federal guides and national standards. She holds a Ph.D. and Master's degree from Princeton University and a B.A. from Williams College in Psychology and Religion.

Dr. Marisa Randazzo

Executive Director of Threat Assessment
Raptor Technologies

Jay Reese, School Safety Specialist, Collierville Schools

Jay Reese has served as the School Safety Specialist for Collierville Schools in Tennessee since 2021. While the title covers a wide range of responsibilities, Jay often describes his role simply: if it involves school safety or physical security, there's a good chance it's on his desk. His responsibilities include serving as the district liaison to local police and fire agencies, collaborating with town engineers on school traffic and safety initiatives, coordinating district-wide safety drills, managing the annual Public School Safety Grant, serving as the district's SAVE Act Coordinator, and participating on the district's Behavioral Threat Assessment Team. He also oversees the district's annual SafeSchools training program, a responsibility that helps ensure compliance across the district while briefly making him one of the less celebrated people in education each training season.

Prior to joining Collierville Schools, Jay spent 16 years with the Collierville Police Department, including 11 years as a School Resource Officer at one of the district's middle schools. During his law enforcement career, he helped plan and coordinate staffing and resources for many of the community's largest events, including the annual Christmas Parade, Fourth of July Celebration, and Fair on the Square. Jay also served six years on the Tennessee School Resource Officers Association Board of Directors.

Since joining Collierville Schools, one of Jay's primary goals has been to streamline safety and operational programs by bringing as many systems as possible under a single umbrella. Like many school districts, Collierville Schools has worked to reduce the number of platforms administrators and staff must navigate throughout the school day. Raptor has played a significant role in that effort by providing an integrated suite of safety solutions. The district currently utilizes VisitorSafe, Emergency Management, and StudentSafe to support its comprehensive approach to school safety and campus operations. Collierville Schools also rolled out Badge Alert at all of its campuses this fall.

When he's not focused on school safety, Jay enjoys spending time with his wife of 15 years, Rachel, a Speech-Language Pathologist with Collierville Schools. Together, they are raising three energetic boys: Cooper (13), Jack (12), and Charlie (9), who have significantly improved his Fortnite skills while providing a daily reminder that parenting is not for the faint of heart. Jay is a proud Ole Miss graduate and firmly believes every biography should end with two simple words: Hotty Toddy!

Jay Reese

School Safety Specialist, Collierville Schools

Dr. Melissa Reeves, Senior Threat Manager, SIGMA/Raptor Technologies

Dr. Melissa Reeves, Ph.D., NCSP, LPC is a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed special education teacher, licensed professional counselor, and former district coordinator of social/emotional/behavioral services. She is past president of the National Association of School Psychologists (2016-17) and has over 20 years’ experience working in public schools and a private school, in addition to providing mental health services in day and residential treatment settings. Currently, Dr. Reeves is a threat assessment & mental health specialist and senior advisor and speaker for Safe and Sound Schools, an organization founded by two parents who lost their children in the Sandy Hook tragedy. She is also a consultant, trainer, and Senior Threat Manager for SIGMA Threat Management Associates/Raptor and a trainer and consultant for Safer Schools Together (SST).

Dr. Reeves actively works and consults with K-12 schools regarding threat assessment cases and establishing safety, suicide, and threat assessment protocols. Dr. Reeves is a co-author of the internationally and nationally recognized NASP PREPaRE School Safety and Crisis Preparedness curriculum, has authored multiple books and publications, and travels both nationally and internationally training professionals in crisis prevention and intervention. She has also served as an expert witness in court cases involving targeted school attacks and threat and suicide risk assessments. Dr. Reeves was recently appointed by the Department of Homeland Security as an inaugural member of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board, which will advise on school safety practices to better support K-12 communities.

Speaking at:
• The Future of BTA Panel Discussion From Awareness to Action - Early Interventions and Suicide Protocols in Schools

Dr. Melissa Reeves

Senior Threat Manager, SIGMA/Raptor Technologies

Amy Rice, Sr. Director of Student Services, Granville County School District

Amy Rice is a proud product of Granville County Public Schools, North Carolina, having been born and raised in Granville County and graduating from J.F. Webb High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Secondary Education from Appalachian State University, a Master of Arts in Education in Science Education from East Carolina University, and a Master of School Administration from North Carolina State University.

Amy began her career teaching high school science at J.F. Webb High School before transitioning into educational leadership. Throughout her more than 30 years of service with Granville County Public Schools, she has served in a variety of roles, including teacher, Director of Instruction, assistant principal, and principal at the elementary, intermediate and high school levels. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Testing and Accountability and Student and Family Services.

Deeply committed to the community that shaped her, Amy is passionate about supporting students, families, and educators across GCPS. She considers it both a privilege and a joy to serve the students and families of her hometown community.

Amy Rice

Sr. Director of Student Services, Granville County School District

Tina Rochester, IT Operations and Projects Coordinator Huntsville City Schools, AL

Tina Rochester is the Operations and Projects Coordinator for the Information Technology Department at Huntsville City Schools in Alabama, where she oversees the department's daily operations and leads the implementation of large-scale technology initiatives that support students, educators, and staff across the district.

With three years in her current role, Tina is known for her ability to coordinate complex IT projects, streamline operational processes, and keep teams moving toward shared goals. She enjoys bringing structure to challenging projects while building strong relationships through collaboration, communication, and a positive, solutions-focused approach when working with other departments in the district. Her passion lies in creating efficient systems that allow technology to better serve the educational community.

When not at work, Tina enjoys making the most of her time outdoors by gardening, kayaking and camping, attending concerts, and traveling to San Diego to visit her daughter.

Tina Rochester

IT Operations and Projects Coordinator
Huntsville City Schools, AL

Kade Rogers, Administrator of Safety, Security & Athletics, St. Charles Parish Public Schools

Kade Rogers is the Executive Director of Safety, Athletics, and Ancillary Services for the St. Charles Parish Public School District, where he provides strategic leadership across school safety, emergency preparedness, athletics, and district operations. With 22 years of experience in school safety and emergency management, Kade has developed extensive expertise in preparing school communities to prevent, respond to, and recover from a wide range of emergencies and critical incidents.

Kade began his career in school safety in 2004 and was promoted to Administrator of Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness in 2012. In that role, he oversaw crisis management, emergency response, the district's Safe Schools Program, violence prevention and conflict resolution, safe schools' audits, and the district's Safe Schools Task Force Team.

Throughout his career, Kade has been directly involved in responding to and planning for numerous emergencies, including chemical releases, bomb threats, lockdowns, school bus accidents, medical emergencies, fires, COVID-19 mitigation, and multiple hurricanes. These experiences have provided him with a practical, real-world perspective on the challenges school leaders face when protecting students, staff, and communities.

In addition to his district responsibilities, Kade represents St. Charles Parish Public Schools on the St. Charles Parish Government Department of Emergency Operation Center external response staff. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association and has contributed to Vector Solutions' Innovation Council.

Kade is committed to advancing school safety through collaboration, preparedness, and continuous improvement. His experience at the intersection of emergency management, school operations, and organizational leadership provides conference audiences with practical insight into building safer, more prepared, and more resilient school communities.

Kade Rogers
Administrator of Safety, Security & Athletics, St. Charles Parish Public Schools

Jim Scott

Jim Scott

Nick Short

Nick Short

Dr. Angela Smith, Associate Superintendent, West Aurora School District 129

Dr. Angela Smith is the Associate Superintendent for Operations and Chief School Business Official for the West Aurora School District, a K-12 district in suburban Chicago serving 12,000 students. Her responsibilities and oversight include Finance, Human Resources, Operations, Capital Projects, Technology, Transportation, Food Service, Community Affairs and Student and Family Services Departments. The district has an annual operating budget of $225 million with approximately 1,800 employees represented by five bargaining units.

Dr. Smith has previously served as an elected school board member and in the private sector in banking and investments. She currently serves on the IASBO Board of Directors as Treasurer, as Vice Chair of the ASBO International Education Committee and as a Director for Consumers Credit Union. She is also an adjunct professor for Northern Illinois University's Chief School Business Official endorsement program.

Dr. Angela Smith
Associate Superintendent, West Aurora School District 129

Jasmine Stratton, Senior Director of Safety and Security for Noble Schools

Jasmine Stratton is an experienced safety and security leader with a strong background in strategic planning and crisis management within educational environments. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, and graduate of Christian Brothers University and DePaul University, she currently resides in Chicago, IL with her husband and two children.

For the past seven years, Jasmine has served as the Senior Director of Safety and Security for Noble Schools, the largest charter school network in Illinois. In this role, she is responsible for creating system-wide emergency response planning, inspecting school safety operations, and managing capital improvement projects with a focus on fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability. Her work is grounded in aligning safety initiatives with the organization's values and community-centered mission.

Jasmine is also committed to ongoing professional development and continues to advance her expertise in incident command systems through the National Disaster and Emergency Management University. She is also preparing to earn the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) designation—a recognized credential that reflects advanced knowledge and competence in security management.

With a deep commitment to educational equity, organizational resilience, and student well-being, Jasmine Stratton brings a thoughtful, systems-level approach to safety leadership in complex urban school environments.

Jasmine Stratton

Senior Director of Safety and Security
Noble Schools

Paula Summers, Family and Community Engagement Specialist, Clay County Schools

Paula Summers

Family and Community Engagement Specialist, Clay County Schools

Bruce Varick, Associate Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Bruce Varick

Associate Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Dustin Vinet, Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, St. Charles Parish Public Schools, LA

Dustin Vinet

Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, St. Charles Parish Public Schools, LA

Dr. Jeffrey S. Wilson, Director of Operations for Huntsville City Schools, AL

Dr. Jeffrey S. Wilson, CEFP, PMP, has served as Director of Operations for Huntsville City Schools in Alabama since 2012, leading a directorate of 250 employees across Maintenance and Construction, Facilities Services, Security, and Transportation in support of 43 schools, 24,000 students, and 2,500 employees.

He is a Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) through APPA and earned his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute in 2026. Dr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Western Illinois University, a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University.

Prior to joining Huntsville City Schools, Dr. Wilson retired as a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel after a distinguished 27-year career that included serving as an Assistant Professor at West Point and holding multifunctional logistics assignments throughout the United States, Germany, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan.

Since joining Huntsville City Schools, Dr. Wilson has led several major school safety technology initiatives, including the implementation of the Raptor Visitor Management System in 2012 and co-leading the deployments of the Raptor Alert System in 2022 and the Raptor Badge Alert System during 2025–2026.

Jeffrey-Wilson

Dr. Jeffrey S. Wilson

Director of Operations for Huntsville City Schools

Chuck Wilson

Chuck Wilson

Speakers are subject to change.