Safe Return: How Schools Can Prepare for a Back-to-School, Part 1

 

 

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, join host Dr. Amy Grosso as she sits down with Michael Matthews, the Director of Operations for the Fairview Park City School District in the Greater Cleveland Area.  Together, they discuss the crucial preparations and strategies necessary for ensuring a safe return to school for students and staff. 

KEY POINTS: 

  • The importance of balancing physical safety measures with the well-being of students and staff 
  • Implementing small, manageable changes over time rather than overwhelming staff with large-scale reform 
  • The critical role of engaging the entire school community, including staff and local agencies 

 Our guest, Michael Matthews, is the Director of Operations for the Fairview Park City School District in the Greater Cleveland Area. Michael oversees all operational aspects of the district, including business affairs and human resources. With fifteen years of experience as an Elementary Principal and Associate Middle School Principal and eight years as an Elementary Teacher, Michael is dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of students and staff in every decision, ensuring that all stakeholders have the essential tools for success. 

Recent Episodes

Work is changing fast. Automation and artificial intelligence aren’t just reshaping how we work—they’re redefining who gets access to opportunity in the first place. With frontline workers making up a significant share of the American workforce—and one in eight Americans having worked at McDonald’s—the discussion about education, skills, and upward mobility feels more urgent…

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Adam Coughran, founder of Safe Kids, Inc., about how private and faith-based schools can strengthen safety practices despite limited resources. KEY POINTS: Physical systems, community engagement, and knowledge must work together for effective…

Artificial intelligence has reached a crucial inflection point. Once imagined as a fast track to artificial general intelligence, the field has instead hit a plateau—prompting leaders, educators, and innovators to rethink AI’s true purpose. As companies and schools race to adopt automation, questions about cost, ethics, and human purpose are rising to the forefront. According…