In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, join host Dr. Amy Grosso as she sits down with Officer Meg Soultz, Co-Founder of Rescue in Color. Together, they delve into the vital collaboration between law enforcement and school districts to enhance school safety. Meg shares insights from her diverse career in public safety, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and addressing gaps in the system to ensure a safe educational environment.

KEY POINTS:

• The unique role of school resource officers (SROs) in bridging the gap between law enforcement and education.

• The significance of having MOUs to allow for information sharing between schools and law enforcement to support students' mental health and wellbeing.

• The initiative of Rescue in Color, a color-coded kit to help educators and staff respond effectively to bleeding control from traumatic injuries.

Our guest, Meg Soultz, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this discussion. Meg began her career in public safety as an EMT while earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at DePauw University, where she also distinguished herself as a collegiate athlete, recently inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame for her achievements in softball. Meg furthered her education with a Master’s Degree in Biology from the IUPUI Purdue School of Science. Her professional journey includes work as a paramedic in diverse settings—rural, urban, and suburban—gathering 15 years of EMS experience at Putnam County Operation Life and Indianapolis EMS. In addition to her fieldwork, Meg served as a full-time EMS Educator. Her dedication to public safety led her to become a tactical medic for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s SWAT Team and Bomb Squad. This role sparked her interest in law enforcement, culminating in her transition to a full-time position at the Carmel Police Department in Carmel, IN. At Carmel PD, Meg earned a spot on the SWAT team, specializing in less lethal gas munitions and serving as a sergeant in the Carmel Police School Resource Unit. Additionally, she co-founded Rescue in Color, an innovative initiative focused on bleeding control.

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Melissa Kree about fostering resilience in students. Kree shares insights from her role in student mental health and school safety. The discussion emphasizes the role of trusted adults in supporting students, exploring how resilience involves ongoing support from families, educators, and communities.

KEY POINTS:

• Resilience Requires Intentional Support — Students benefit from consistent support.

• The Importance of Trusted Adult Relationships — Trusted adults play an essential role in helping students navigate difficult experiences and build resilience.

• Holistic Approach to School Safety — Fostering a supportive school culture and positive student well-being are essential for school safety.

Our guest, Melissa Kree is a seasoned school psychologist with over a decade of experience at Oxford Community Schools in Michigan. Since joining the district in October 2012, Kree has worked across all educational levels, from pre-kindergarten through high school. She coordinates building-level Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) teams and oversees special education evaluations. Additionally, she serves as a district-level Individualized Education Program (IEP) coach. Kree is an active member of the district's crisis team and participates in building-level threat and suicide risk assessment teams, utilizing both Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) and PREPaRE models. She has been an ongoing part of Oxford’s response to the tragedy on November 30th, 2021, and works closely with the Executive Director of School Safety, Operational Technology, and Student Services to regularly review and implement policies and procedures, as well as lead building level teams in the implementation as situations arise. She serves on the district mental health/SEL committee and participates in county-level PREPaRE community of practice groups. Beyond her district responsibilities, she serves on the mental health and SEL committee of the Michigan Association of School Psychologists, advocating for the integration of mental health considerations in all aspects of school safety. Residing in Oxford with her husband and two children, Kree is deeply committed to the well-being and safety of her community.

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso interviews Chief Ronald Applin, Chief of Police at Atlanta Public Schools. The conversation centers around the department's unique approach to law enforcement, focusing on student well-being, mental health, and reducing the school-to-prison pipeline. Chief Applin explains how the department addresses the gap in law enforcement services, with an emphasis on restorative practices and positive behavior interventions, aiming to ensure that students are not criminalized for issues that can be addressed through support and guidance.

KEY POINTS:

• How they use restorative practices to help address issues while holding students accountable for their actions.

• Providing specialized training in mental health first aid, social-emotional learning, and crisis intervention to enable officers to be guardians alongside being a warrior.

• Using an Intervention Specialist to change the trajectory of students' lives.

• Building strong officer relationships with students, often acting as mentors and engaging in non-custodial conversations that help foster trust to increase school safety.

Our guest, Chief Ronald Applin, Chief of Police, Atlanta Public Schools, has over 32 years of law enforcement experience. After completing boot camp for the United States Marine Corps, he served in the Marine Corps Reserves for 6 years. He simultaneously began his career with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in 1989 and retired in 2010 at the rank Captain. During his tenure at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, he commanded the day-to-day operations of the Law Enforcement Division, SWAT Team, oversaw the implementation of 911 services for the City of Chattahoochee Hills and served as the Venue Commander for the 2008 Brian Nichols Trial. In 2011, he became a faculty member with Reinhardt University Public Safety Institute, where he continues to serve, teaching undergraduate and graduate level criminal justice courses. He also taught in the Law and Justice Program at Creekside High School. His love for public safety led him to accept an offer to serve as the Director of Security at Landmark Christian School in 2013. The experiences gained in this position prepared him for the highlight of his law enforcement career—being selected as the Chief of Police for the newly created Atlanta Public Schools Police Department. As a product of the Atlanta Public School System, Charles Lincoln Harper High School 1986 graduating class, this was a full circle moment for him. Chief Applin earned a Bachelor of Science Social Science in Criminal Justice from Mercer University, Master of Public Administration from Troy University, and has completed all coursework, with the exception of a dissertation, for his PhD in Criminal Justice from Capella University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy 220th Session and a graduate of the inaugural class of Mercer University's Public Safety Leadership Institute. Chief Applin’s leadership and professionalism extend beyond the halls of the schools he serves. He is an active member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Georgia Alliance of School Resource Officers and Educators (GASROE) Board of Directors, National Center for School Safety Advisory Board, Landmark Christian School Board of Directors and Atlanta Technical College Criminal Justice Program Advisory Committee, Graduate of the United Way VIP 2021.