The Changing Face of School Security: An Allegion Podcast

S1 Ep. 16 Proactive Protection Kevin Wren's Expert Insight on School Security

In this episode, our host Paul Timm catches up with Kevin Wren, a School Safety Advocate with The Cook & Boardman Group.
Kevin's extensive background in school security began at age 15 as a student advocate in Georgia and evolved through roles as a school resource officer, firefighter and EMT, eventually leading school security and emergency management departments in South Carolina. He later went on to win the Campus Safety Director of the Year award in 2016.
Kevin discusses major topics and trends in school security today, including the importance of having a holistic school security management plan, weapon-screening technology, AI surveillance and prioritizing the needs of your school over the latest tech trends, behavioral threat management and the necessity of keeping doors locked, and more.

S1 Ep. 15 Amplifying Student Voices on School Security

This week, we’re being schooled by students—and it turns out, we have a lot to learn! 
Emma Mann, student ambassador for Safe and Sound Schools and Vanderbilt University student, shared a unique perspective on school safety and security in the eyes of a student. In fact, there’s a lot that administrators and staff DON’T know when it comes to social media, what students talk about or struggle with, or how to engage students in conversation around safety. 
Emma joined Paul Timm in this episode of The Changing Face of School Security to discuss the impact of social media on safety, the importance of students getting involved in school safety efforts, building relationships and communication between staff and students and more. 

S1 Ep. 14 Through Shattered Glass: Missy Dodds’ Survival Leads Transformation

If you told Missy Dodds years ago that she would be working as a school safety advocate, she probably wouldn’t believe you. However, life always has its twists and turns. 
Missy got her start in teaching at Red Lake High School. On March 21, 2005, her life took the biggest turn: gunfire erupted in the school. Missy had locked her classroom door moments before, but the gunman entered by shooting the tempered glass view panel next to the door. 
Missy Dodds, parent ambassador for Safe and Sound Schools, joined Paul Timm in this episode of The Changing Face of School Security to discuss her recovery journey as a school shooting survivor, changes in access control and relationships with law enforcement, the importance of community involvement in school safety and more. 

S1 Ep. 13 Fires, Egress, and Accessibility Codes: Debunking Myths and Embracing Change

When it comes to school security, certain codes and standards are put in place and regularly updated to keep people safe. And when these codes change, it’s important that schools stay current with safety protocols and regulations, including the types of hardware they incorporate into their school’s infrastructure.
 
Some hardware, like barricade devices, can be more harmful than helpful to a school’s security and accessibility in emergencies like active shooter events, fires and more.
 
Lori Greene (DAHC/CDC, CCPR, FDAI) joined Paul Timm in this episode of The Changing Face of School Security to discuss the importance of education on changing codes and standards surrounding fires, egress and accessibility in schools, myths around school shootings, barricade devices and fires, and accessibility standards, glazing, and the future of school security.

S1 Ep. 12 Digital Citizenship and the Next Generation: The Intersection of Cyber and Physical Security

Cybersecurity and online safety are more important than ever in today’s digital age. Today’s youth probably doesn’t remember a time when the world wasn’t digitally connected. The onset of the Internet as an everyday tool has opened a world of opportunities, both positive and potentially harmful. 
With schools incorporating more digital tools into their daily routines, students and educators alike have a greater opportunity—and necessity to learn about cyber safety. 
Continuing the topic of cybersecurity, Antoinette King, CISSP, PSP, DPPS, SICC joined Paul Timm in this episode of The Changing Face of School Security to discuss cybersecurity education in schools, with an emphasis on digital citizenship and online safety, converging physical and cyber safety in the digital age, and the impact of the digital world on physical safety and mental health. 

S1 Ep. 11 Empowering Educators: Teaching Cybersecurity in the Digital Age with CISA

Technology as an everyday tool has created more complex and diverse cybersecurity threats in our nation than ever before. Since it's become an integral part of learning in schools, it’s important for educators to learn and teach the importance of cybersecurity and help mitigate the threats we face. 
The government saw a need for accessible materials covering school safety, and SchoolSafety.gov was born. There, school leaders can find evidence-backed resources on topics like cyberbullying, mental health, school violence, threat assessments and more. 
Don Hough of CISA joined Paul Timm in this episode of The Changing Face of School Security to discuss the role of CISA in school safety and SchoolSafety.gov, cybersecurity in school security, and the evolving threats that schools face, including targeted violence. 

S1 Ep. 10 Her Final Words: From a Nightmare, New Hope Blooms

“I love u guys.” 
These were the last four words Ellen and John-Michael Keyes received from their daughter, Emily Keyes, in a text message on the day she was held hostage and then killed in the Platte Canyon High School shooting. 
For victims’ families and friends, this is a real-life nightmare. And for the Keyes, this nightmare was their catalyst in creating a nationwide organization led by those affected by and with an interest in school safety. 
John-Michael joined Paul Timm in this episode of The Changing Face of School Security to discuss the mission of the I Love U Guys Foundation, the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and the Standard Reunification Method (SRM), and the importance of emotional health in schools, supported by a “Dashboard of Wellness”. 

S1 Ep. 9 Building Resilient Schools: Protecting Student Mental Health & Safety

When COVID-19 first made waves, it caused a major disruption in schools and in turn, greatly affected students’ mental health and behaviors. 
Student mental health is a growing cause for concern today, not just for the students themselves, but for overall school safety. It’s important that schools have protocols in place to prevent and respond to threats, bullying, and violence appropriately. That’s where a behavioral threat assessment model can be valuable.
In this episode of The Changing Face of School Security, Dr. Melissa Reeves, Ph.D., NCSP, LCMHC, and expert in mental health and behavioral counseling in schools, joined host Paul Timm to discuss behavioral threat assessments, Dr. Reeves’ professional experience in school crisis prevention and intervention, and programs that aim to support mental health in schools, especially for at-risk students. 

S1 Ep. 8 Adapting School Security: From the PASS(t) into the Future

No two schools are alike, and while best practices surrounding safety can apply to most situations, no security plan is one-size-fits-all. School security requires a specialized, careful approach and planning.
That’s where The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) comes in. PASS brings together educators, public officials, and industry experts to develop a coordinated approach to K-12 safety using proven practices, education and free resources.
In this episode of The Changing Face of School Security, Chuck Wilson, the co-founder and chairman of the Board of Directors for PASS, joined host Paul Timm to discuss the origin, mission, and growth of PASS over the years, significant changes in school security protocols, including thermal imaging and vape detection, and his predictions for the evolution of school security in the coming years.

S1 Ep. 7 Advocacy for Advanced Tech: Emerging School Safety and Security

As technology evolves, so must the ways we secure our schools. But how do you determine the right solutions for your facility?
In response to critical events or emergencies, schools may feel pressured to act quickly when it comes to safety and security. While it’s important to respond to such concerns, many schools are left with equipment that’s outdated or not effective for their specific needs.
In this episode of The Changing Face of School Security, James Marcella, the Director of Industry Associations for Axis Communications, joined host Paul Timm to discuss the value of K-12 advocacy organizations in safety & security, applications for video surveillance technology in access control and the importance of integrating technology into operational planning.