Michele Gay

Michele Gay, M.Ed.

ABOUT

Mother, educator, and co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools, Michele Gay chose to take action after losing her daughter Josephine Grace on December 14, 2012 in the Sandy Hook School tragedy. Since that time, Michele 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 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 and school safety advocate, Michele reaches audiences and consults with all levels of community institutions — schools; municipalities; houses of worship; educational and public safety leadership; state and federal governments; law enforcement agencies; and top news media sources. Through her work, and always with a goal of helping others increase the safety within their own communities, Michele shares her personal experiences and the lessons she has learned.

Book Michele

PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS

School Safety: A Parent’s Perspective

Keynote: 1-2 hours depending on requests

Alissa tells her personal story and recounts the lessons she learned on December 14, 2012 and across the aftermath of the Sandy Hook School tragedy. She shares the inspiring way she has chosen to help school communities improve school safety in honor of her daughter, Emilie, and in memory of the other 19 children and six teachers lost on December 14, 2012. Alissa’s perspective as a parent provides unique insight and inspiration for parents, administrators, school staff, emergency responders, and community members who strive to make their schools safer.

Beyond Tragedy: Response and Recovery Following a School-Based Crisis

Keynote: 1-2 hours depending on requests

Alissa shares her personal perspective on the Sandy Hook School response and recovery efforts. Based on her own experiences, those of victims, survivors, first responders, community leaders, educators, families, and children in the Sandy Hook and Newtown communities, Alissa outlines the challenges, successes, and lessons learned in the aftermath of tragedy and loss to better prepare others to respond and recover from emergencies, crisis, and disaster. She shares insights on emergency notification, communication, death notification, protection of victims and victims’ families, mental health needs and services, media management, and financial considerations, as well as other issues surrounding the response and recovery efforts within Sandy Hook and Newtown.

School Safety: Student’s First

This presentation, offered by several of our speakers and educators, is designed with students in mind. On our website, we offer a complimentary download of our Safe and Sound Student Club Program Guide. This guide is designed to help 6th – 12th grade students, their parents, and their advisors take the first steps toward being a proactive part of the their school’s safety plan. For those schools and school districts who want to take the extra step, Safe and Sound Schools offers speakers who can assist in guidance and implementation, help launch the program, lead site walk-throughs, and ensure that you have all of the tools you need to institute safe school principles for all students. Each program is customized to the unique needs of that school’s community. Our presenters share their personal stories followed by a powerful call to action directing the youth of our nation to step up for school safety. As leaders and problem-solvers in their own right, our next generation is essential to our mission: safe and sound schools for all.

This program is offered by the following Safe and Sound Speakers: Michele Gay, Alissa Parker, Frank DeAngelis, CJ Huff, Lisa Hamp, and Dr. Amanda Nickerson.

Reunification for the School Community

Half or full day workshop

Michele co-presents with Dr. Melissa Reeves to share personal and professional experiences in school-based reunification, examine best practices and current reunification models, and conduct scenario-based, table-top exercises to prepare participants for successful reunification planning and preparation.

Engaging the Community in School Safety: Tools and Ideas for Safer Schools

Breakout/workshop: 1-2 hours depending on requests

Alissa offers a presentation and discussion of the Safe and Sound model and toolkits according to the needs of the attendees. Alissa’s sessions can be tailored to specific and various school safety stakeholders or delivered to a mixed group, shared in a seminar format, hands-on workshop, or breakout style. As an active member of the school safety community, Alissa is prepared to share expert resources and discuss many of the programs and interventions available to communities striving to improve school safety.

Developmentally Appropriate Safety Education

1-2 hour workshop

Michele addresses one of the most pressing and timely concerns school communities face today: developing and delivering safety curricula and training with respect to the unique needs of students and staff of all ages, abilities, and educational levels. Using Safe and Sound’s models for teaching and training, Michele empowers staff to determine objectives and activities for developmentally appropriate and psychologically safe education and training in the K-12 school setting.

Panel Discussions and Q&A Sessions

Alissa offers Q and A sessions following her keynotes or as a separate session. She is also available for panel discussions. As these formats are more organic and highly individualized, Alissa is available to discuss and plan for these types of sessions directly with clients.

TESTIMONIALS

We had the honor of having Michele Gay speak at our School Safety Summit to an audience of our district and school leadership. Her presentation … was both inspirational and educational in providing our schools with great ideas that they could take back to their school and implement immediately. I cannot think of a more meaningful presentation that truly hits home with everyone in the audience.

Paul Hildreth, Emergency Operations Safety & Security, Fulton County Schools

It was beyond powerful. The strength and courage that it takes to provide insight and support is immeasurable by any standard. The administrators walked away with a new perspective on not only crisis preparedness and response planning, but also a new perspective of the human connection in our work as educators. Bureaucracy causes us to lose sight of our true mission. Thank you for your support in planning the event, and we look forward to working with you again in the future!

Jeri Callaway, Director, ROE SchoolWorks

Michele’s presentation, ‘A Mother’s Perspective to School Safety’ was eye-opening on many levels. We believe that hearing her story on how events truly unfolded really puts a different perspective on school safety. It shows how important it is for all levels of administration, from principals down to the teachers… [to] be ready to jump into any role that is needed at the time of an emergency.

Jamia McDonald, Executive Director, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, RIEMA

Michele’s outstanding keynote address was well received by the 800+ school resource officers in attendance and it truly set the stage for a powerful close to our national school safety conference.

Mo Canady, Executive Director, National Association of School Resource Officers, NASRO

Michele’s presentations to parents, educators, and policy makers provide the perfect balance of emotion and practical guidance. She promotes an approach to school safety that strikes the important balance between physical and psychological safety. Her efforts have helped to ensure schools have comprehensive safety and crisis plans, with special attention being given to reunification and recovery.

Stephen E. Brock, Ph.D., NCSP, LEP, Past President, National Association of School Psychologists, NASP

Thanks for speaking at Middlesex Partnerships for Youth’s 2014 School Safety Summit. Your compelling address about the need for upgrading school safety measures was well received. You are an eloquent speaker and the 250+ conference participants were hanging on your every word. Thanks for making this conference so special. Many of our participants told us that it was the best School Safety Summit they had ever attended and that having you as a speaker was the reason why!

Margie Daniels, Executive Director, Middlesex Partnerships for Youth

The day was great and I am sure that Michele’s presence was a huge factor. We started out expecting 150-160 and had an attendance of 240. Michele’s presence and message was incredible. We are already talking about possibly having her back some time for a somewhat different audience. Thanks to you and Gina for helping everything to come together quite smoothly.

D. Michael Baxter, MD, Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Reading Hospital

Everything went really well. We had a complication with her electronic presentation, but it was all cleared up before she was on. I have to tell you, I’ve been doing this conference for 19 years and she was one of the best keynotes we’ve ever had. The feedback from the participants was amazing. Also, while she was speaking you could have heard a pin drop in a room with over 450 people, plus servers.

Leah Galkowski, Coordinator, Center for Safe Schools

Michele Gay spoke at our conference this past week. She was amazing. Her message was inspirational as well as educational. As school business professionals, we all learned ideas and tips to be mindful of back at our schools. Michele gave us first-hand, useful knowledge to take back to our districts with us. If Michele presents at your event, you will not be disappointed!

Jeffrey LaPorta, Association of School Business Officials – Maryland/DC

Oh my goodness. It was one of the best trainings. I am still hearing compliments even today, one week after the training. Melissa and Michele are clearly professionals and experts in their field. Michele took us through her journey at just the right speed and at just the right depth. This enabled us to learn while not be overwhelmed with emotion. It was a beautiful tribute to Josephine.

Julie Pendley, Director of Special Education & School Psychologist, Muhlenberg County Schools

We loved Michele!! Our conference attendees were amazed at her and the quality of her presentation. I spoke to Michele about ARMEA partnering with Safe & Sound Schools on future projects. Thanks again!

Deb Swink, Co-Chair, Arkansas Mental Health in Education

As usual, Michele was well-received and did an amazing presentation. We couldn’t find one negative thing to say if we tried. Thanks again for your assistance.

Chip Yeaton, President, Massachusetts Juvenile Police Officer’s Association

Michele was absolutely wonderful in every way! We loved her! Her presentation was riveting and our entire group was impacted greatly by her story. I know our superintendents will be adjusting or refining their safety protocols in their districts because of her first-hand experience of that horrible tragedy. I had people say how much they appreciated how she began her presentation, setting the tone of how deeply personal it was for her to tell her story. She gave permission for the audience to be free to react as they needed to and was so articulate as she communicated the event. You could hear a pin drop in the room. I watched many of the faces of those around me and they were like sponges taking in everything she said. You could tell they were absorbing the event as if it would happen to them … and it very well could. I heard nothing but rave reviews and gratitude for the unique opportunity to hear her (and Frank DeAngelis last year). It was an incredible afternoon spent with her. She is delightful and made us feel like we had always known her. It was sad to see her go.

Carrie Zandi, Administrative Assistant, Large Unit District Association of Illinois

Michele and Lisa were the highlights of the day. The message that they delivered fit perfectly with the audience expectations. Their presentations couldn’t have been better. They were absolutely fantastic. Administrators are taking suggestions back to their school divisions. I can’t thank you enough for taking care of everything on your end.

Jeff Terry, Director of Technology, Roanoke County Public Schools

Michele was outstanding! I received multiple verbal comments from attendees how it was one of the best, if not the best, presentation of the event. She was easy to work with, and we enjoyed our time with her.

Lynn Chernich, Program Manager, National Criminal Justice Training Center, Fox Valley Technical College

Michele’s presentation was stellar! It got real dusty in the room at the end of the presentation. Very impactful! The comments received from attendees regarding the entire day were outstanding.

J. Brett Carruthers, Director of Risk Management, New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal

She was fantastic, per usual. This is the fourth event that Michele and I have worked on in the last 10 months – and she was stronger than ever during her keynote and as a member of our panel. We think she is great – and so did our audience!

Cathy Longley, Communications Manager, National Fire Protection Association

Michele was FANTASTIC! She was just what we needed. She did a wonderful job relating to our audience. Many, many staff have commented how moved they were by her. It takes incredible courage to not only share her story, but to turn tragedy into something positive through her advocacy work. She really helped the NICS staff, 900+ strong, to feel appreciated and she helped to drive home a very important message that we all need to hear and recognize – that the work we are doing, does indeed make a difference. Michele received TWO standing ovations during her 60 minutes with us.

Jill Montgomery, Management & Program Analyst, Federal Bureau of Investigation

TECH & INTRO

Tech Preferences

Projector
Projector screen
Auxiliary input for audio
Microphone (lapel mic preferred)

Presenter Introduction

Your speaker today is a mother, former teacher, and one of the founders of Safe and Sound Schools: A Sandy Hook Initiative. Following the tragic loss of her daughter, Josephine, in the Sandy Hook School tragedy, Michele Gay joined Sandy Hook mother Alissa Parker to establish Safe and Sound Schools as a national resource for school safety. She now travels across the country sharing her message of inspiration, recovery, and school safety education and advocacy. Please welcome Michele Gay.