What Every Educator Needs to Know About School Law with Amanda Bigbee
- Safe and Sound Schools
- 52 minutes ago
- 5 min read
“One of the difficulties with school law is that things are constantly changing. The federal law could change pretty much at any given moment. [Local] legislators meet [regularly to create new laws on] school safety. It's not something you can just learn and then be done. It's evolving, so you have to stay up with it.” - Amanda Bigbee
What does it really mean to keep schools safe and sound? Beyond policies and drills, how do educators, administrators, and law enforcement work together to protect students and staff while fostering a supportive school culture?
In this episode of The Sound Off on School Safety, Michele Gay sits down with Amanda Bigbee, school law expert and Division Director of Policy Service for the Texas Association of School Boards, to explore practical strategies for creating safe schools. Amanda shares her insight on legal requirements, threat assessment, staff conduct, and how to build a culture of awareness and accountability.
Dr. Grant shares practical strategies for teachers, administrators, and parents alike — from proactive planning to relational connection — all grounded in one powerful principle: if we can’t make it better, we shouldn’t make it worse.
Below you’ll find the full episode guide with key themes and standout quotes to guide your listening.
Episode Guide
[10:15] The Complexities of Ever-Changing Laws
Amanda explains the constantly shifting nature of school safety laws. She and Michele discuss how school leaders can shift through what they need to know, how to get their questions answered, and navigate the complexities of keeping campuses safe.
"When you're talking about a school administrator or a teacher that is already packed to the gills and cannot put more on their plate, asking them to keep up with that evolving set of rules is practically impossible. The best advice I have is make sure you have a lawyer you're comfortable talking to and asking questions of.” -Amanda Bigbee
[19:06] See Something, Say Something
The conversation dives into protocols for handling firearms, knives, or illegal content on student devices, including child sexual abuse material. Amanda emphasizes involving law enforcement immediately and maintaining safety.
“That's where people get hung up like, they worry ‘What if I'm wrong?’ They think ‘I don't want to get anybody in trouble’ or ‘Maybe I should like look into it a little bit further.’ But as an educator, it's not their job to be the investigator. I like to say it's like they're throwing a flag. It's not their job to look at the tape. They just [need to] throw the flag.” -Michele Gay
[31:43] The Line Between Discipline and Legal Action
Amanda explains the difference between school-based disciplinary action and law enforcement protocols, emphasizing why staff training is critical. They discuss practical safety considerations when handling potentially dangerous items.
“Police have to have probable cause. Schools just have to have reasonable suspicion, and that is a lesser standard. It is very possible that you will be in a situation [where] a police officer won’t have enough to go search. [But the principal might have ] enough reasonable suspension to bring Sally and her backpack down to search it. Searches have to be reasonable at their inception and throughout. You have to be able to articulate a reason to believe that the bad thing is in this one place and then search it.” -Amanda Bigbee
[44:51] What to do When Something Illegal is Discovered
Michele and Amanda discuss the steps that need to be taken upon suspicion or discovery of illegals materials. From child sexual abuse material to guns, Amanda emphasizes how vital it is that administrators are trained to handle these situations in a way that is safe and legal.
“The most important thing is to immediately notify the police. Once you find something, there is probable cause to do what they need to do. You immediately bring the police in and allow them to do what they're trained to do and they should be doing for your community. That's first rattle out of the box. Never leave a student alone with a dangerous item [or evidence].” -Amanda Bigbee
[55:30] Do’s and Don’ts for School Staff
Amanda shares guidance on staff behavior, including appropriate use of school devices, prohibited items, and maintaining professional boundaries. Michele emphasizes that clear expectations and periodic reminders prevent serious safety breaches.
“I think that kind of spelling out those do's and don'ts for staff, there are some logical places to do that. Each school year, maybe twice a year, [including] little refreshers during staff meetings [can keep everyone aware].” -Michele Gay
[01:01:00] Information Sharing and Legal Considerations
Amanda outlines best practices for sharing information safely while complying with FERPA and other regulations. Michele and Amanda highlight the importance of relationships with law enforcement, parental consent, and balancing intervention, discipline, and criminal reporting.
“If there's an immediate risk, you always can contact the police and give them the information they need to find the kid or make sure whatever calamity is anticipated stops. That's [an example of a justifiable] immediate need. It's not just ‘We think this may have happened in the past.’ It's somebody's in danger [right now].” -Amanda Bigbee
Listen to the Full Episode with Amanda Bigbee
This episode of The Sound Off provides actionable guidance for school leaders, administrators, and educators. From legal and procedural considerations to fostering a culture of awareness and accountability, Michele Gay and Amanda Bigbee offer practical strategies to help schools keep students and staff safe and sound.
Today’s episode is presented by Verkada, trusted by schools protecting more than 20 million students. With video security, access control, and panic buttons all in one platform, Verkada gives schools the tools to respond fast and keep their communities safe.
Check Out These Additional Resources from Safe and Sound and Amanda Bigbee
Dive into these resources for more information on this topic:
In the Trenches: Supporting Public Educators Podcast Featuring Amanda Bigbee
Averted School Violence Project – Learn more about the power of “See something, say something” through averted cases in the ASV database
Listen to More Episodes of The Sound Off
Michele Gay sits down with Amy Jeffs — a longtime partner and advocate for safer schools — to explore how schools can intentionally build a community-based approach to safety. Amy shares her experience helping schools move from “talking the talk” to “walking the walk,” highlighting practical ways to engage diverse stakeholders, strengthen relationships, and empower students.
Michele Gay speaks with Barb Grimm, Founder of School Responder and longtime champion of Safe and Sound Schools, about the role of connection in prevention and response. Together, they explore why student engagement is central to safety, why it matters that schools offer many kinds of trusted adults, and how educators and communities can create cultures where no student feels alone.
Michele Gay and Dr. Kathy Martinez-Prather, Director of the Texas School Safety Center, explore how school safety has evolved into a proactive, holistic effort. The discussion centers around the critical importance of leadership in driving safety initiatives, the role of proactive threat assessments, and the power of students in identifying and reporting concerning behaviors.
Comments