Turning School Safety Plans Into Real-World Action with Craig Straw
About this episode
Michele Gay and Craig Straw discuss the transition from school safety planning to effective real-world execution.
What does it really take to turn a school safety plan into something that actually works when it matters most? In this episode of The Sound Off on School Safety , Michele Gay sits down with Craig Straw, former Director of Security and School Safety , to explore what it means to move beyond planning and into real-world execution. With a career spanning military service, district leadership, and system-wide emergency management, Craig brings a deeply operational perspective to school safety — one that emphasizes not just having a plan, but ensuring that plan works under pressure. Together, Michele and Craig unpack how safety is built through coordination, training, and continuous improvement — and why the difference between a document and a capability can shape outcomes in critical moments. They also reflect on the human side of the work: the everyday school experiences worth protecting, and the responsibility that comes with safeguarding them. In this conversation: Why school safety must go beyond planning into execution How large districts operationalize prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery The role of training, communication, and coordination in real-world readiness…
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