The Sound Off On School Safety

Hosted by Michele Gay, The Sound Off on School Safety shares real stories, expert insights, and practical tools to protect our most precious people–our students. Each week she'll bring you conversations with leaders, experts, survivors, and everyday heroes. Michele is an advocate, educator, mom, Founder of Safe and Sound Schools and a leading voice in the school safety community.

The Sound Off On School Safety is a education podcast hosted by Safe and Sound Schools, with 70 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Safe and Sound Schools hosts The Sound Off On School Safety, a education show with 70 episodes published.

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  The Sound Off On School Safety

  The Truth About Weapons Detection in Schools with Tom McDermott

  Aug 12, 202641 min

  Schools are under increasing pressure to strengthen physical security. But with so much attention on weapons detection technology, how do school leaders separate marketing from meaningful safety? In this episode of The Sound Off on School Safety , Michele Gay welcomes back Tom McDermott, K–12 Safety and Security Coach at CEIA USA, for a candid conversation about one of the fastest-growing topics in school safety. Tom explains why the conversation shouldn't start with products—it should start with understanding risk, defining the threats a school is trying to address, and building a comprehensive safety strategy where technology supports people, planning, and training. Together, Michele and Tom unpack the misconceptions surrounding weapons detection and explore how schools can make informed decisions without losing sight of what matters most: creating environments that are both safe and welcoming. In this conversation: Why weapons detection technology is often misunderstood The difference between metal detection and weapons detection Why every school should define its security goals before evaluating technology How physical security fits into a layered school safety strategy Why technology can never replace planning, training, and trusted relationships Listen now to learn why the most important school safety decisions begin long before a student ever walks through a detector. Guest links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlmcdermott/ CEIA: https://k12.ceia-usa.com/what-weapons-detection-really-means-for-school-security/ Show links & resources: Connect with Michele: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-gay/ Safe and Sound Schools:⁠⁠ https://safeandsoundschools.org⁠⁠

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  The Sound Off On School Safety

  New Lockdown Drills and School Safety Guidance with Dr. Steven Brock, Dr. Melissa Reeves & Mo Canady

  Jun 24, 202657 min

  How do schools prepare for emergencies in ways that protect both physical safety and psychological well-being? In this special episode of The Sound Off on School Safety, Michele Gay is joined by Dr. Steven Brock, Dr. Melissa Reeves, and Mo Canady to discuss the newly updated Best Practice Guidance for School Safety and Lockdown Drills: Preparing for Active Threats. More than a decade after the original guidance was first released, this updated edition reflects years of research, lessons learned from schools across the country, and the collective expertise of educators, school psychologists, school resource officers, and safety professionals. Together, the panel explores how school safety practices have evolved, what the latest evidence tells us about lockdown drills, and why preparedness efforts must support both physical and psychological safety. Whether you're a school leader, educator, school resource officer, mental health professional, or parent, this conversation offers practical insights into creating safer, more supportive learning environments for every student. In this conversation: • What's new in the 2026 Best Practice Guidance for School Safety and Lockdown Drills • Why physical safety and psychological safety are inseparable • What the latest research reveals about lockdown drills and student preparedness • Why highly sensorial active shooter simulations should not be used in schools • How schools can build readiness without increasing fear and anxiety • New recommendations for schools and communities impacted by trauma or targeted violence 👉 Listen now to learn how evidence-based school safety practices can help schools prepare for emergencies while supporting the confidence, well-being, and resilience of students and staff. Guest links: Dr Melissa Reeves https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-a-louvar-reeves-388b97bb/ Dr Stephen Brock https://www.safeandsoundschools.org/featured-speakers/dr.-stephen-brock Mo Canady https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-canady-90b0b211/ Safe and Sound Speakers: https://www.safeandsoundschools.org/speakers Show links & resources: Connect with Michele: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-gay/⁠ Safe and Sound Schools:⁠⁠ https://safeandsoundschools.org⁠⁠

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  The Sound Off On School Safety

  You Don’t Have to Wait for a Crisis to Prevent It with Dr. Kate Rahi

  Jun 10, 202656 min

  What if the most important shift in school safety is realizing we don’t have to wait for a crisis to prevent it? In this episode of The Sound Off on School Safety, Michele Gay sits down with Dr. Kate Rahi, Associate Director of Projects and Training at Safe and Sound Schools, for a powerful conversation about prevention, early intervention, and the teams behind effective school safety. Drawing from her experience in social work, mental health crisis response, school-based threat assessment, and national violence prevention efforts, Kate shares why prevention works best when schools stop thinking in silos and start working together. This conversation moves beyond fear-based narratives around school violence and instead focuses on something hopeful: schools already have the tools to intervene earlier, support students better, and change trajectories before situations escalate. From counselors and school social workers to SROs, teachers, parents, and students themselves, she makes the case that prevention is a shared responsibility. And in one of the episode’s strongest moments, Kate leaves listeners with a simple but urgent reminder: we cannot afford to wait. In this conversation: • Why schools don’t have to wait for a weapon or major crisis to intervene • How multidisciplinary teams make prevention more effective • The difference between punishment-focused responses and support-focused intervention • Why early warning signs matter — and how schools can respond sooner • How schools can build cultures where students feel seen, supported, and helped • What real prevention looks like in practice across mental health, counseling, threat assessment, and school safety 👉 Listen now to hear why prevention is possible — and why the best school safety work happens long before a crisis unfolds. Guest links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-shaw-phd-lmsw/ Show links & resources: Connect with Michele: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-gay/⁠ Safe and Sound Schools: ⁠⁠ https://safeandsoundschools.org⁠⁠

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  The Sound Off On School Safety

  From Loss to Legacy: How We Make Our Schools Safe with Lori Alhadeff

  May 27, 202638 min

  What does it mean to turn unimaginable loss into lasting change? In this deeply personal episode of The Sound Off on School Safety , Michele Gay sits down with Lori Alhadeff — mother, advocate, and founder of Make Our Schools Safe — to talk about the life and legacy of her daughter Alyssa, who was killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Lori shares who Alyssa was beyond the headlines: a fierce soccer player, a loyal friend, and a joyful young woman whose spirit continues to guide her family’s mission every day. Together, Michele and Lori reflect on the painful realities that families carry after school violence, the responsibility to turn grief into action, and the urgent work still needed to protect students and educators. From the passage of Alyssa’s Law to the human stories behind policy and prevention, this conversation is a powerful reminder that school safety is ultimately about people, connection, and protecting futures. In this conversation: Lori shares the story of Alyssa’s life, personality, and lasting impact The emotional journey from personal tragedy to national advocacy Why Alyssa’s Law became a mission to improve emergency response in schools The importance of prevention, preparedness, and accountability in school safety How families and communities can channel grief into meaningful action The lasting human impact behind every school safety policy and conversation 👉 Listen now and hear how Lori Alhadeff continues to honor Alyssa’s legacy by fighting for safer schools and stronger communities. Guest links: Make Our Schools Safe: https://makeourschoolssafe.org/board-of-directors/lori-alhadeff/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.alhadeff.5/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorialhadeff8/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-alhadeff-802b02179/ Show links & resources: Connect with Michele: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-gay/⁠ Safe and Sound Schools: ⁠⁠https://safeandsoundschools.org⁠⁠

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  The Sound Off On School Safety

  Turning School Safety Plans Into Real-World Action with Craig Straw

  May 13, 202657 min

  What does it really take to turn a school safety plan into something that actually works when it matters most? In this episode of The Sound Off on School Safety , Michele Gay sits down with Craig Straw, former Director of Security and School Safety , to explore what it means to move beyond planning and into real-world execution. With a career spanning military service, district leadership, and system-wide emergency management, Craig brings a deeply operational perspective to school safety — one that emphasizes not just having a plan, but ensuring that plan works under pressure. Together, Michele and Craig unpack how safety is built through coordination, training, and continuous improvement — and why the difference between a document and a capability can shape outcomes in critical moments. They also reflect on the human side of the work: the everyday school experiences worth protecting, and the responsibility that comes with safeguarding them. In this conversation: Why school safety must go beyond planning into execution How large districts operationalize prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery The role of training, communication, and coordination in real-world readiness Why continuous improvement is essential to effective safety systems What separates a plan on paper from a capability in practice The human impact behind school safety decisions 👉 Listen now to learn how school safety becomes real — not just written — in the moments that matter most. Show links & resources: Connect with Michele: ⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-gay/ Safe and Sound Schools: ⁠https://safeandsoundschools.org⁠

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