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AVAILABLE TO BOOK EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE SAFE AND SOUND SPEAKERS BUREAU
Frank DeAngelis, retired principal of Columbine High School, is an internationally recognized leader in leadership, crisis management, and school safety. As principal during the tragic 1999 shooting, he has remained deeply committed to supporting his Columbine Rebels and school communities nationwide. Offering unwavering support from prevention through recovery, DeAngelis emphasizes the core elements of leadership — building strong relationships, fostering support systems, and cultivating resilient school cultures. His firsthand experiences provide unparalleled insights on overcoming adversity, implementing effective safety protocols, and leading through crisis. A recipient of numerous honors, including Colorado High School Principal of the Year and NASRO’s Archie T. Hodge Lifetime Achievement Award, he is a pillar of the school safety community, a highly sought-after speaker, the one to call for organizations ready to prepare for challenges with compassion and courage.
WHY
Book
Frank
FOR YOUR EVENT?
“Frank was AMAZING! From start to finish, this whole process has been incredible. He was so easy to work with and so accommodating. Our school was laser focused when he was speaking and I can't explain how much our school staff, administration, and students benefitted from his words of wisdom. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity for him to be here. He is an inspiration to all and I feel so lucky to learn from him. Truly an educator that I look up to and admire. He is a gift and I look forward to having him back at SHP in the future.”
—Mark Vitale, Assistant Director of Admissions, Seton Hall Preparatory School
WHO
Books
Frank
?
Frank’s powerful story and lifelong dedication to creating safer, more supportive schools for students and educators have made him a highly sought-after speaker for a wide range of organizations, including:
National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO)
Indiana Department of Education
The Law Enforcement Against Guns & Violence Conference
Seaton Hall Preparatory School
Texas A&M International University
Great Lakes Association for School Safety
Idaho Department of Education
Education Service Center Region 3
Salem-Keizer Public Schools
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 23
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Get Inspired
TO BRING
Frank
TO YOUR NEXT EVENT!
SPEAKER
Topics Include
Culture, Climate & Community
Leadership, Law & Policy
Recovery & Resilience After Tragedy
Turning Pain into Purpose
Signature
PRESENTATIONS
Click on the titles to learn more about each signature presentation and fill out the form below to book for your next event.
Leadership Lessons from Columbine and Beyond
(Keynote, 1-3 hours)
The tragedy at Columbine redefined the nation. Frank DeAngelis tells his story from the events through the aftermath. This presentation reveals the leadership lessons he learned in the focus of an international firestorm. Frank’s honest, straight-forward account provides invaluable insights into managing the after-crisis with students, staff members, community members and never-ending media attention. He shares how he was able to build a community that worked together for his kids: the students at Columbine High School.
Panel Discussions and Q&A Sessions
Frank offers Q&A sessions following his keynotes or as a separate session. He is also available for panel discussions. As these formats are more organic and highly individualized, Frank is available to discuss and plan for these types of sessions directly with clients.
The Road to Resilience
1-2 Hour Keynote
Presented as two braided stories, Frand DeAngelis and Michele Gay, Sandy Hook parent, founder and executive director of Safe and Sound Schools, share their transformative roads out of tragedy and into resiliency. They examine critical aspects of resilience along their respective healing journeys to illustrate the importance of proactive resiliency-building, including protective factors, healthy relationships, mental health supports, faith and spirituality, health and wellness, and discovering post-traumatic growth.
Testimonials
Frank DeAngelis is a national treasure who has transformed the school safety conversation world-wide. His honesty and unwavering commitment that those lost in our Columbine tragedy will never be forgotten is reflected in a willingness to share the difficult lessons learned and his own very moving and personal journey. I have worked with Frank for almost a decade during unimaginable crisis events in our District including; the Deer Creek Middle School shooting and the kidnapping and murder of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway, as well as several credible threats to Columbine High School. Frank’s genuine compassion and ability to connect with students, parents, educators and first responders is inspirational and a significant reason we have been able to successfully recover and thrive. Frank didn’t just rebuild the climate and culture at Columbine High School, he restored the faith of our entire community.
—John McDonald, Executive Director, Security and Emergency Management, Jeffco Public Schools
Speaker
BIOGRAPHY
Frank DeAngelis served as an educator for the Jeffco School District in Littleton Colorado, since 1979, becoming the principal in 1996. A national-level speaker, Frank has addressed numerous professional and school audiences on the topic of recovery after a school-based tragedy. He has visited, consulted, and assisted school communities across the country following incidents of violence and tragedy, including Platte Canyon, Chardon, Virginia Tech, and Sandy Hook.
Frank received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his lifetime of service as an educator. He was selected as Colorado High Principal of the Year and was one of the three finalists for National Principal of the Year. He recently received the Jefferson Country Lifetime Achievement Award and the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builders Award. He retired in June of 2014 after 35 years at Columbine High School. He is presently serving as a consultant for safety and emergency management for the Jeffco School District in Colorado, and continues to travel nationally and internationally, speaking and consulting.