Welcome, Dr. Joseph McKenna!

Safe and Sound Schools Welcomes Senior Director of Projects, Programs & Training

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Joseph McKenna to the Safe and Sound team!

As we seek to further develop our programs, trainings and overall mission to keeping schools and students safe, we are thrilled to announce that Dr. McKenna has joined our team to serve as Senior Director of Projects, Programs & Training.

Powered by his background in school safety and administration, as well as his experience in developing and implementing evidence-based programs, Dr. McKenna will be responsible for elevating Safe and Sound’s signature programs, such as Especially Safe, Pathways for Prevention, Bright Futures, Staying Safe and the Averted School Violence Project. His role also includes consulting and technical assistance on best practice guidance and real-world application to help schools build, customize, and continually refine safety programs and processes. 

”Joe has been a close member of the Safe and Sound community for many years. We have always admired his longstanding dedication to school and student safety, and have had the opportunity to collaborate on various projects. His background across all disciplines of comprehensive school safety makes him a natural fit here – he is a gamechanger and champion for our signature programs and trainings!” 

-Michele Gay, Safe and Sound Schools Founder and Executive Director

Before joining Safe and Sound, Dr. McKenna was Vice President of Threat Detection Program Development at Navigate360, where he led program development focused on translating school safety strategies from concept to practical application with an emphasis on fidelity and sustainability.

Dr. McKenna also served as the Director of School Safety at WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center, collaborating with local districts, government entities, community organizations, and other partners to conduct research, evaluation, and policy analysis, while providing technical assistance to enhance safety efforts across schools and communities.

Before his time at WestEd, Dr. McKenna served as Executive Director of Safety and Student Support, then Deputy Superintendent for Comal ISD (TX), overseeing all operational aspects of the district, including safety, security, nursing, counseling, child nutrition, transportation, technology, and facilities. He also managed the district’s student support services department, offering mental health and crisis supports.

Dr. McKenna spent more than seven years at the Texas School Safety Center, eventually serving as Associate Director. In this role, he managed operations across the research and education divisions, overseeing the implementation of legislative mandates and school safety programs, including technical assistance, training, and resource development.

He received his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2016, with nearly all his research focused on school safety. He has published numerous academic articles, technical reports, and other scholarly works on the subject. 

“My passion is, and has always been, school safety. Starting in undergrad, through continued education and my career, I’ve been driven by the intentional thought, collaboration and multidisciplinary teamwork it takes to keep schools safe for staff and students. The opportunity to continue this journey at Safe and Sound, and the honor it is to continue developing programs alongside Michele and so many wonderful experts – it's incredible and I’ll be eager to share updates as they are available!”

-Dr. Joe McKenna

Here’s a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) report where you can get to know some of Dr. McKenna’s work and learn from his experience. Stay tuned for more from him and the Safe and Sound Schools team!

School Policing Programs: Where We Have Been and Where We Need to Go Next

In response to a 2019 directive from Congress, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) engaged experts, including Dr. Joe McKenna, to conduct a comprehensive examination of the role of police in schools and how they can better serve students. Their efforts included a review of research, data analysis, and facilitation of expert discussions. This report synthesizes their findings and provides recommendations for the future of school policing.