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 shares how digital tools are helping them plan smarter, monitor more effectively, and respond faster. With the right technology in place, schools can move beyond reactive protocols and start designing safer, more seamless event experiences for students, families, and the community.

KEY POINTS:

• Why the same safety protocols used during the school day should apply to everything from small assemblies to Friday night football.
• How tools like geo-fenced check-ins, AI, and digital ticketing give schools real-time visibility, faster response, and tighter control over events.
• How data acts as a quiet partner in school safety, revealing patterns that help schools predict risks, deploy staff more effectively, and make each event safer than the last.

Our guest, TJ Markland, is a leading authority in school payment systems and event safety. He has spent time building integrated payment gateways for SaaS platforms, making it easier for businesses to process transactions. Previously, TJ was the General Manager of PayK12, a cloud-based solution that simplifies school payments and financial management, now part of the Raptor Platform. Over more than five years at PayK12, he was instrumental in enhancing the platform’s features, with a strong emphasis on minimizing risk and boosting efficiency for schools. Currently, as General Manager of Payments, TJ has helped launch Raptor’s latest innovation, EventSafe™, which enables school staff to plan and manage events—such as assemblies, performances, and parent visits—while maintaining a high standard of campus safety.

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies Michelle Dawn Mooney sat down with special guest, TJ Markland, General Manager of PayK12. Pay K12 is a cloud-based software platform that provides districts, schools, and departments within, one digital hub for managing school payments and funds. In this episode, we’ll discuss how schools can reduce risks and improve efficiency in school payments.

Key Takeaways:

• Streamlining Payments: Consolidating all school payments into one platform reduces inefficiencies and strengthens financial security across departments.

• Unified Transaction Management: Leveraging technology to manage both cash and credit transactions on a unified platform enhances transparency and security.

• Emerging Trends: Data interoperability helps schools streamline processes, reduce manual tasks, and improve financial management efficiency.

TJ Markland is a recognized expert in school system payments and the General Manager of PayK12, a cloud-based software platform designed to streamline school payments and financial management. With over five years of experience at PayK12, TJ has played a pivotal role in expanding the platform's capabilities, particularly focusing on reducing risks and improving efficiency in school payment systems. Before joining PayK12, TJ worked for a payments company that built its own payment gateway for vertically integrated SaaS (Software as a Service), helping companies easily accept payments. Under TJ's leadership, PayK12 has grown significantly, now serving over 5,000 administrators across 23 states. PayK12 has recently become part of the Raptor Technologies family, allowing the integration of payment systems with safety and security features, further enhancing the offerings for school districts.

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, join host Dr. Amy Grosso as she sits down with Michael Matthews, the Director of Operations for the Fairview Park City School District in the Greater Cleveland Area. Together, they discuss the crucial preparations and strategies necessary for ensuring a safe return to school for students and staff.

KEY POINTS:

• The importance of balancing physical safety measures with the well-being of students and staff

• Implementing small, manageable changes over time rather than overwhelming staff with large-scale reform

• The critical role of engaging the entire school community, including staff and local agencies

Our guest, Michael Matthews, is the Director of Operations for the Fairview Park City School District in the Greater Cleveland Area. Michael oversees all operational aspects of the district, including business affairs and human resources. With fifteen years of experience as an Elementary Principal and Associate Middle School Principal and eight years as an Elementary Teacher, Michael is dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of students and staff in every decision, ensuring that all stakeholders have the essential tools for success.

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.

KEY POINTS:

• Integrating a student's digital world is vital for a thorough behavioral threat assessment.
• Adding a tech-savvy educator to the team ensures the student's digital presence is accurately assessed.
• Building and maintaining trust is essential for sustaining campus safety throughout the threat assessment process.

Our guest, Lea Bauer, brings over 25 years of expertise in threat assessment, protective intelligence, physical security operations, executive protection, and investigations. She is the founder of Bauer S&I Specialists, LLC, a private investigative and security firm serving corporate and individual clients, with a specialized focus on protective intelligence and security solutions for the entertainment industry.

As a consultant for SIGMA, now part of Raptor, Lea provides expert guidance and training in threat assessment and management to K-12 schools, colleges, workplaces, and high-profile individuals and families. A licensed private investigator, she is also an active member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

Lea’s impressive career includes her tenure as a Senior Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service, where she conducted threat assessments, provided physical security, and safeguarded national leaders. She also worked closely with the Department of Defense to deliver training on counterterrorism strategies, including tackling extremist threats and terrorist financing. Before her law enforcement career, Lea was a licensed professional counselor, giving her a unique perspective on human behavior and risk dynamics.

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 work effectively.

• Comprehensive training ensures educators, students, and parents understand how to use the system and the process for follow-up.

• Anonymous reporting addresses not only threats but also student mental health and well-being.

Our guest, Shawn Toadvine is an accomplished professional serving as the Manager of Student Programs at PublicSchoolWORKS since 2013. With a background in theatre, he holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Northern Kentucky University and later pursued a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Cincinnati. Drawing from his experience as an administrator, Shawn brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role, developing meaningful programs that positively impact students' lives. His dedication to education and commitment to excellence make him an invaluable asset to the Raptor pack!

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.

Drawing on her extensive experience as an educator and advocate, Michele discusses how these prevention stories offer actionable insights that help improve school safety policies and procedures.

KEY POINTS:

• The ASV Project provides essential lessons from incidents where crises were prevented, helping schools refine their safety measures.

• Stories from the ASV Project highlight practical steps schools can take to identify and address potential threats before they escalate.

• Strong relationships between students, staff, and safety teams are at the core of early intervention and effective crisis prevention.

• How to learn more about the ASV Project and Safe and Sound Schools.

Our guest, Michele Gay, mother, educator, and co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools, chose to take action after losing her daughter Josephine Grace on December 14, 2012. Since that time, she has channeled her work as an advocate, improving safety and security in schools and communities across our country. With a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Towson State University, Michele earned her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College. Prior to the Sandy Hook tragedy, she taught at the elementary level in the Maryland and Virginia public schools. Now a nationally and internationally recognized public speaker, school safety expert, and a regular contributor for print, radio, and television outlets.

As the primary visionary and author of Safe and Sound’s programs and materials, Michele has served as a stakeholder voice in national legislative discussions. Through these works, she continues to build Safe and Sound Schools as a national hub of school safety education, technical assistance, expert content, and best practices. An educator by training — and fueled by the heart of a mother and community member — Michele is uniquely positioned to help others prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from tragedies of their own. Remaining inspired by Josephine, every day, she dedicates herself to honoring Josephine’s memory through this work to ensure that every school, every child, and every community is truly safe and sound.

This episode of the School Safety Today podcast, by Raptor Technologies, features an in-depth discussion with Dr. David Diehl, Director of Student and Community Services at Selma Unified School District (CA), about the critical role of preparation in ensuring school safety. Dr. Diehl shares his experiences, including a pivotal crisis incident, and emphasizes how proper planning, technology, and a culture of safety can mitigate risks and enhance crisis responses in schools.

KEY POINTS:

• A well-executed reunification process is critical for the safe return of students to their guardians in crises, reducing the potential for miscommunication or harm.

• Detailed, actionable emergency plans tailored to specific scenarios are essential. They should include realistic drills and role-specific responsibilities for staff.

• Using technology to streamline crisis management through providing real-time student accountability, ensuring efficient communication and deployment of resources during emergencies.

Our guest, Dr. David Diehl, is the Director of Student and Community Services for the Selma Unified School District (CA). He was previously a Coordinator of MTSS and an Assistant Principal for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. Before entering education, he retired as a police sergeant after 24 years in law enforcement. Dr. Diehl’s Doctoral research was inspired by the 21 students he lost to gang-related homicides while teaching in a Central California court school. He has worked extensively with system-involved youth in court schools, community day schools, and alternative education settings. A sought-after speaker and published author, Dr. Diehl is a proponent of data-informed interventions prior to 6th grade, along with providing educators with increased awareness into the lives of street-socialized students from marginalized communities. He believes this approach can improve student engagement, increase resilience, and impede future incarceration.

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy speaks with Benjamin S. Fernandez, MS. Ed., School Psychologist about the crucial role of crisis teams in schools. The discussion emphasizes the importance of preparedness, prevention, and relationship-building to effectively manage crises and ensure student wellbeing.

KEY POINTS:

• Crisis teams play a crucial role in prevention, psychological recovery, and long-term support to promote student wellbeing.

• Building trust with students, staff, and families before a crisis occurs is foundational

• Crisis teams focus on addressing mental health and psychological recovery post-crisis, whereas threat assessment teams proactively evaluate and manage potential threats.

Our guest, Benjamin S. Fernandez, MS. Ed., is a seasoned school psychologist with over 28 years of experience in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Currently serving as a crisis intervention specialist in Northern Virginia, he leads and coordinates crisis intervention services. Benjamin has a rich background in providing mental health services, including assessments, suicide screenings, threat assessments, consultation, and counseling. He is a Lead PREPaRE Trainer and has presented on youth suicide, school mental health, and crisis intervention. He has testified before various government bodies and contributed to the Virginia Department of Education’s Suicide Prevention Guidelines. Recognized for his significant contributions, he has received multiple awards, including School Psychologist of the Year by both the Virginia Academy of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Psychologists.