The Changing Face of School Security: An Allegion Podcast

S1 Ep. 5 90 Minutes, No Lives Lost: Molly Hudgens’ Story

September 28, 2016, started as a typical school day for Molly Hudgens, a guidance counselor at Sycamore Middle School. That is, until an eighth-grade student approached her office with a fully loaded handgun and a plan to harm people on campus. After 90 minutes that felt like hours, Molly was able to disarm the student, but struggled to communicate with the School Resource Officer or call for help. Her careful actions and thoughtful communication tactics ultimately aided her that day, preventing a potentially tragic event from happening. In this episode of The Changing Face of School Security, Molly joined host Paul Timm to discuss her firsthand experience preventing the Sycamore Middle School shooting, the importance of communication and School Resource Officers, and how to support students beyond the classroom and into adulthood. 

S1 Ep. 4 From FBI to School Security: Combatting Swatting and Improving Safety in Education

After 23 years in the FBI, Jin Kim decided he wasn’t done advocating for safety and joined Safe and Sound Schools to continue his passion in school security. 
In recent years, Jin saw that schools and law enforcement had issues with security and “swatting”, or prank calls made to emergency services to falsely report violence or threats to dispatch armed officers. Not only does this waste time and resources, it creates fear and the potential for danger, even if no threat is present. From there, Jin made it his mission to educate schools and law enforcement on tactical readiness and active shooter response training. 
Jin joined host Paul Timm on The Changing Face of School Security to discuss his journey from FBI to school safety activist, the issues with “swatting”, and his recommended best practices during school shooting events. 

S1 Ep. 3 How Technology is Making Schools Safer—and Bullying Easier

Kids aren’t just facing bullying in-person—it’s also from behind their phone and computer screens. 
Jeff Bean started his career in school safety as a School Resource Officer (SRO) during his time as a police officer. As concerns for safety changed and grew, he started SafeSchools4All, an educational resource for parents, faculty, administrators and students that aims to create safe school environments. 
When technology changes and grows, it can enhance security but also foster unsafe environments for students. SafeSchools4All helps parents and teachers stay up to date on topics involving bullying and other safety issues, providing guidance on discussions with kids. 
Jeff also advocates for the use of security technology, especially for student Chromebooks or other electronic devices. Listen to learn his perspective on the changing environment of school security. 

S1 Ep. 2 Strengthening School Safety Protocols: Lessons Learned from a Tragic Event

For Guy Bliesner, the Rigby Middle School shooting in 2021 wasn’t only a tragic event—it was a crucial learning experience for the safety protocols schools should have in place during and following such events.
 
After witnessing the aftermath of the shooting, Guy observed just how overwhelming the following processes can be. From initial response to communication and reunification, Guy details just how important it is not to just train and carry out streamlined protocols but to acknowledge human emotions and mitigate the trauma responses in the aftereffects.
 
Listen to learn Guy’s experience in the real-time response and aftermath of the Rigby school shooting, the importance of school culture and climate to security, and how he sees school security changing in coming years.

S1 Ep. 1 From Tragedy to Advocacy: Redefining School Security After Sandy Hook

The Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy didn't just impact the community of Newtown, Conneticut on December 14, 2012. If affected the entire landscape of school security as we knew it.
In our first episode to kick off The Changing Face of School Security, Paul Timm interviewed Michele Gay, Co-founder & Executive Directorof Safe and Sound Schools.
After losing her daughter, Josephine Grace, to the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, Michele has focused her advocacy on improving safety and security in schools and communities, especially for those with special needs like her daughter and many others.
Listen to learn more about the Safe and Sound Schools mission, the Especially Safe Schools program, the importance of creating appropriate plans for school safety and more on the changing landscape of school security.

Preview: The Changing Face of School Security

In this podcast, Paul Timm highlights the changemakers in the K-12 industry—from school security coordinators and analysts to non-profit organizations and trusted advisors in the K-12 solutions space. This podcast is for school administrators, school security experts, and those looking to make a difference in school security.