Our Team
Executive Team
Michele Gay
Founder & Executive Director
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.
Read MoreKim Vann
Deputy Director
Kim joined Safe and Sound Schools in 2019 and currently serves as the Deputy Director where she works collaboratively with the executive director, the board of directors, the staff, and Safe and Sound partners to advocate for and provide research-based education, tools, and resources to ensure the safest possible learning environment for our students.
Kim ensures Safe and Sound Schools operates effectively by providing strategic and operational leadership in their mission to reach every community to utilize resources that support school crisis prevention, response and recovery, and to protect each and every student in each and every school.
Read MoreOur Staff
Martha Gonzalez-Corona
Design & Marketing Specialist
Susan Parziale
Program Support Specialist
Brittani Keel
Director of Special Events
Jennifer Honeycutt
Bookkeeper
Board of Directors
Directors: Bob Gay, Bob Martin, Adam Safir, Esq., Susan Sawyer, Esq. & Sharon Newport
Co-Chairs: Tina Cantu, JD, MBA, RN & Jim Murtha, Ph.D.
Treasurer: Mark Santamaria
Advisors & Professional Contributors
Stephen E. Brock, Ph.D
Licensed Educational Psychologist
Nationally Certified School Psychologist
Author PREPaRE: Crisis Intervention and Recovery
Lead Editor Best Practices in School Crisis Prevention and Intervention
Professor and School Psychology Program Coordinator
Graduate and Processional Studies in Education
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Mo Canady
Executive Director
National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO)
Hoover, AL
Julia Cook, M.S.
Award-Winning Children’s Author
Former Teacher and School Counselor
International Speaker
Parenting Expert
Frank DeAngelis
Retired Principal
Columbine High SchoolSpecial Advisor for Education Leadership to Safe and Sound Schools
Consultant for Safety and Emergency Management for the Jefferson County Schools
Colorado High School Principal of the Year
Finalist, National Principal of the Year
Denver, CO
Jim L. Accomando
James L. Accomando is an Advisor to Safe and Sound Schools and an Advocate for Parents for Safer Schools Program. Jim believes that the Mission to support crisis prevention, response and recovery and to protect every school and every student, every day is not only relevant but a must for all parent groups. Jim was elected as the 55th President of the National PTA Board of Directors at the June 2017 National PTA Convention. Jim has been engaged in fulfilling the Mission of PTA since his oldest child began Kindergarten.
For over 20 years, he has volunteered at every level and has had the pleasure of being President of his child’s High School PTA, the District’s PTA Council and the State of Connecticut Parent Teacher Association. Jim believes that family and community engagement is one of the key strengths of PTA in providing equity and quality in our educational system today. He advocates to look beyond the school community to develop partnerships with other educational stakeholders in order to further the Mission of the Association.
CJ Huff, Ed.D.
Retired superintendent, Joplin, Missouri
Special Advisor for Education and Community Leadership to Safe and Sound Schools
Founder, Bright Futures USA
Expert: U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students
Expert: Missouri Center for Education Safety
Senior Advisor for Education to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Hurricane Harvey Recovery
Joplin, MO
Jin Kim
FBI (ret) Active Shooter Subject Matter Expert & Practitioner
FBI/ALERRT & CRASE Tactical Instructor
Law Enforcement Tactical Resolution Trainer
FBI (ret) SWAT Operator and Observer/Sniper
Founder & Principal of the PerSec Academy, LLC
Melissa Reeves, Ph.D.
Nationally Certified School Psychologist
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Special Education Teacher
Co-Author: PREPaRE: Crisis Prevention and Preparedness
Co-Author: Identifying, Assessing, and Treating PTSD at School
Co-Author: Comprehensive Planning for Safe Learning Environments
Lecturer, Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC
Rania Mankarious, J.D.
Public Safety Advocate
Chief Executive Officer
Crime Stoppers of Houston
Houston, TX
William Modzeleski
Former Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary
Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
U.S. Department of Education
Co-Author: The Safe School Initiative
Co-Author: Threat Assessment In Schools
Co-Author: School Associated Violent Deaths in the U.S.
National School Safety Expert, Author, Lecturer
John Montes, NREMT
Emergency Service Specialist,
National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA)
Previous member of Boston EMS
Previous EMS Specialist & EMS Duty Chief, Santa Clara County, CA
Member DHS First Responders Working Group
Representative to National EMS Advisory Council
Responsible for NFPA standards related to:
Cross functional emergency preparedness and response
Emergency management
Fire Service Occupational Safety and Health
Hazardous Materials Response
Emergency Medical Services
Shari Nacson, LISW-S
Child Development Consultant
Clinical Social Worker
Adult Educator, Editor
Cleveland Heights, OH
Susan Payne
Special Advisor to Safe and Sound Schools
Founder, Safe2Tell
28-year Law Enforcement Veteran
Former Detective, Colorado Springs Police Department
Former Special Agent Colorado Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security
Subject-matter expert: school safety, prevention, response, and recovery
Author, Consultant, Trainer
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Scott Poland, Ed.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Nationally Certified School Psychologist
Author: Coping with Crisis
Professor, The Center for Psychological Studies
Nova Southeastern University
Hollywood, FL
Amy Shanler
Public Relations and Crisis Communication Expert
Associate Professor, Boston University College of Communication
Boston, MA
Jaclyn Schildkraut, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Public Justice
State University of New York at Oswego
Co-Author: Mass Shootings: Media, Myths, and Realities
National author & expert on school/mass shootings (e.g., The Wall Street Journal, WORLD Magazine, Popular Science, NPR, Syracuse Post-Standard)
Oswego, NY
James R. Tartre, CDC, FDHI
Former President of the Door and Hardware Institute
Former President of the Door Security and Safety Foundation
Current Treasurer of the Door Security and Safety Foundation
Paul Timm, PSP
Allegion
Author: School Security: How to Build and Strengthen a School Safety Program
Chicago, IL
Kevin Wren, MAEM
Director Risk, Security, Emergency Management
Rock Hill School District
Steering Committee: Partner Alliance for Safer Schools
Rock Hill, SC
Cedric Calhoun
Chief Executive Officer, Door Security & Safety Foundation
Chief Executive Officer, DHI – Door Security + Safety Professionals