More Than Locks and Doors: A Comprehensive Approach to School Safety
- Safe and Sound Schools
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
In the May 2025 issue of Door Security & Safety Magazine, our founder and executive director, Michele Gay, shares her expertise in a personal and educational article titled “More Than Locks and Doors: A Comprehensive Approach to School Safety.”
Drawing from her experience as a mother, educator, and comprehensive school safety advocate, Michele challenges those in the door security and safety industry, as well as any others reading, to think beyond hardware and see the full picture of what is required to keep schools safe.
“When schools are preparing for, preventing, and responding to threats, physical security measures—such as locks, doors, and access controls — are essential. However, these measures are most effective when integrated into a layered strategy as part of a comprehensive approach to safety.”
As Michele writes, school safety is the “ultimate team sport.” It requires collaboration across all sectors, and for partners in the door safety and security industry to integrate their expertise into a broader school safety conversation.
In this piece Michele provides beneficial expertise on:
The Power of a Layered Strategy: One safety measure isn’t enough. Effective prevention requires layers of physical security measures that save time and lives by delaying threats, providing more time for safety protocols to be engaged and first responders to arrive at the scene.
Embracing a Comprehensive Approach to School Safety: Based on the Safe and Sound Schools Comprehensive Framework for School Safety Planning and Development, there are six interdependent domains of school safety, ranging from mental health to emergency operations, that schools must leverage together to create safer, more support learning environments.
How to Door Security and Safety Professionals Can Prepare for Collaborative Conversations with School Safety Leaders: Key questions and considerations to move beyond the vendor mindset and enter the conversation around school safety as collaborators with highly valuable expertise.
Technology Considerations and Future School Safety Innovations: Key factors as we look ahead to the next generation of school safety solutions, including thorough testing and thoughtful integration.
While written for Door Security & Safety Magazine, the insights shared are valuable for all members of the school community, helping us move toward a comprehensive vision of school safety—one that keeps every school and every student safe, every day.
Be sure to read Michele’s full article here, starting on page 8: