Real-World Strategies for Safer Schools & Coordinated Emergency Response

On today’s episode of School Safety Today, Michelle Dawn Mooney chatted with Mike Matranga, former Director of Safety and Security at Texas City ISD and CEO of M6 Global. They talked about how situational awareness skills can be used to implement early intervention measures, how schoolwide training is critical for identifying and providing mental health resources, and the importance of practicing emergency response plans with all stakeholders.

Honing situational awareness skills is key to enacting a multi-faceted approach to identifying concerning behaviors in order to prevent harm to self or others. It is critical now more than ever to move from being reactive to proactive in identifying these behaviors and having the resources to refer and help those in need. All roles in the school community have this collective responsibility – a well-trained and informed staff, parent groups, and student groups are key.

When it comes to emergency response planning, it is not enough to just have a plan. Schools need to coordinate and rehearse the plan. And no single department or role should the plan fall to; all stakeholder groups need to come together to develop, review, and practice.

Mike Matranga is the founder and CEO of M6 Global Defense Group, an elected Texas City Independent School District (TCISD) Board Member at Large, and a former TCISD Executive Director of Security and School Safety with a demonstrated history of working in multiple facets of the security and investigations industry. He has been featured in several national publications, including the Wall Street Journal, WIRED Magazine, and the Security Magazine cover story in March 2020. He was recently ranked No. 5 in the nation for his unique school security planning and operational experience using technology and human behavior techniques to thwart mass attacks. Matranga has been a pioneer in school-based security practices, even leading to legislation being written per his recommendations.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Healthcare trends
2025’s Hottest Healthcare Trends with David Willis, Principal with ECG
March 28, 2025

Healthcare organizations have faced significant challenges over the last five years due to the lasting financial and operational impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread labor shortages, and rising costs of care delivery. The pandemic forced hospitals to prioritize crisis response over long-term strategy, leading to deferred investments, workforce burnout, and financial strain. Now, with many…

Read More
Microschool
With ESA Demand Outpacing Supply, How Can Utah Expand Microschool Access?
March 28, 2025

Across the country, education savings accounts (ESAs) are reshaping how families think about schooling—but in Utah, surging demand is outpacing available options. Last year, roughly 27,000 students applied for Utah’s ESA program, but only 10,000 scholarships were available. While parental interest in alternative education is booming, a new bottleneck is emerging: the supply of…

Read More
freight guards
Can a Single FreightGuard Review End Your Trucking Company? Sadly, Yes
March 27, 2025

As the freight industry grapples with the lingering impacts of a market downturn and rising digital vulnerabilities, a critical question has emerged: how can trucking companies defend their reputations in an era where a single online review can kill a business? In 2023 alone, over 88,000 trucking companies shuttered, and for many, the catalyst…

Read More
workforce in security
Where Security Meets People: Building a Better Industry Through Workforce and Inclusion
March 27, 2025

The security industry is facing a moment of transformation. Amid rapid technological shifts and workforce challenges, companies are realizing that talent — recruiting it, developing it, and retaining it — is now central to long-term success. At the same time, long-overdue conversations around inclusion, representation, and culture are gaining momentum across the sector. According to…

Read More