When former Secret Service agent Mike Matranga turned his attention to school safety, he didn’t bring more gadgets or guards — he brought a mission to empower people.

In this episode of The Sound Off on School Safety, Michele Gay talks with nationally recognized school safety leader Mike Matranga about what most schools get wrong — and what it really takes to prevent violence. From his experience in the Secret Service to leading safety transformation in Texas City ISD after the Santa Fe tragedy, Mike shares why prevention beats panic, and how culture — not tech — is the key to safer schools.

In the conversation:

• Why safety culture must be prioritized over technology

• The behavioral cues that matter — and when to act on them

• How to empower every adult in a school without overwhelming them

• Why reducing all violence — not just active shootings — matters most

• The critical difference between tools that feel safe vs. those that are

👉 Listen now and learn how real safety starts with empowering real people.

Visit https://safeandsoundschools.org to explore resources, tools, and more ways to take action in your school community.

Links and resources:

Mike’s LinkedIn

M6 Global Defense

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