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.
Read MorePRESENTATIONS & 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.
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.
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.