National Spotlight, Lasting Impact: AJ and Madalena DeAndrea
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Safe and Sound Speakers Bureau Members Featured in The New York Times
When The New York Times recently examined the lasting lessons of the 2021 Arvada shooting, the story naturally led to AJ and Madalena DeAndrea.
For those unfamiliar with their work, their inclusion in the article serves as a powerful introduction to why their voices resonate with audiences across the country through their work with the Safe and Sound Schools Speakers Bureau. Their perspective is shaped not only by professional expertise, but by lived experiences that span some of the most significant acts of targeted violence in modern American history.
AJ and Madalena both bring a unique combination of insight, experience, and purpose to every audience they engage. Their stories reflect the very principles that guide Safe and Sound Schools: preparedness, response, resilience, continuous learning, and an unwavering commitment to creating safer communities for all.
Learning From Every Experience
Throughout his career in law enforcement, AJ DeAndrea responded to some of the nation's most devastating acts of violence.
As a SWAT officer, he responded to the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. Seven years later, he was at Platte Canyon High School during a hostage situation that claimed the life of a student. He was also among the first officers to respond to a mass shooting at a youth missionary center in Arvada.
Rather than allowing those experiences to become defining moments of loss alone, AJ dedicated his career to learning from them and helping others do the same. As the New York Times article notes, each incident reinforced his belief that law enforcement, schools, and communities must continuously evaluate their response efforts and adapt their practices to meet evolving threats.
"Let's swallow our pride, look at what we did wrong, look at what we did good, and let's find and create systems, models, ways to deal with this better.” -AJ DeAndrea
That mindset has become a hallmark of AJ's work as a trainer, speaker, and thought leader. It is also deeply aligned with the work of Safe and Sound Schools, where we believe that effective school safety is built upon a willingness to learn, collaborate, and continually improve.
When School Safety Becomes Personal
The New York Times article also highlights a deeply personal chapter in the DeAndrea family's story. In 2018, AJ received a text message from his daughter, Madalena, shortly after midnight:
"I love you guys."
The article explains that those words had a particular meaning for the family. Years earlier, following AJ's experience at Platte Canyon High School, they had come to recognize the phrase as a signal that someone was in danger and needed help. Madalena was sending the message from inside the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, where a gunman had opened fire.
Like so many survivors, Madalena's life was forever changed by that experience. Yet rather than allowing tragedy to define her future, she transformed it into purpose.
Today, she serves as Director of School Safety for the Jefferson County School District includes both Arvada and Littleton, Colorado — home to Columbine High School. Through her work and her speaking engagements, she helps school leaders understand that preparedness and resilience are not abstract concepts. They are essential investments in people and communities.
Together, AJ and Madalena offer audiences something few speakers can: the perspective of both responder and survivor.
Turning Experience into Action
One of the most powerful themes throughout the article is the importance of preparation.
Whether speaking with educators, school administrators, security personnel, first responders, or community leaders, AJ and Madalena consistently encourage audiences to think critically about preparedness before a crisis occurs. Their presentations challenge participants to consider not only how they would respond during an emergency, but how they can build stronger systems, relationships, and cultures of safety every day.
The story of the DeAndrea family is one of resilience and dedication as they continually find ways to link arms with their community and find empowerment in preparation.
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