School Safety Today: The Role of Wellbeing in Building a Culture of School Safety

Safety in schools is of the utmost importance. As such, host Bobby Brill speaks with author and school counselor Molly Hudgens about her heroic story and the importance of student wellbeing as it pertains to school safety.

Hudgens, a School Counselor and Author of Saving Sycamore: The School Shooting That Never Happened, served first as an educator for eight years before pivoting to counseling in her district’s middle school.

In 2016, an armed 8th-grade student came into her office. Distressed, he said he was planning to harm students and staff and that he felt she might be the only one to convince him otherwise.

What happened next was a testament to Hudgens’ philosophy in regards to what it means to be a school counselor and provide a supportive environment for her students. Hudgens said Sycamore allowed her the freedom and supportive environment to show the students and staff that student well-being is a serious and important topic.

“…Our school, in particular, was light years ahead of where we needed to be in terms of counseling,” said Hudgens. Hudgens noted that she follows three steps to help support student well-being and school safety. The first is to make sure they are physically safe. Secondly, it is vital to address mental health concerns students or staff may have. Thirdly, Hudgens teaches students and staff about wellbeing and educates them on mental health topics.

“There was always an open-door opportunity for students to meet with a counselor,” said Hudgens. She noted that counselors in Sycamore just have to focus on helping students. There are no expectations to make student schedules or help with testing. This provides flexibility in providing counseling for those who need it. Hudgens explained, “Our focus has always been primarily on addressing student and family needs.”

In this episode of School Safety Today, Hudgens shares her story while discussing elements she believes helps make schools successful in developing a culture of school safety and wellbeing for staff and students.

For 30 years, Raptor Technologies has provided school safety software with the mission to protect every child, every school, every day. Raptor is trusted to protect over 50,000 K-12 schools worldwide and maintains an annual client retention rate of greater than 98% with its visitor and volunteer management, emergency management, Raptor Alert and other software solutions.

In June 2022, Raptor introduced StudentSafeTM, a first-of-its-kind patent-pending software platform designed to help school staff connect the dots on students in distress by providing a seamless way for all staff to recognize, document, support, and manage low-level concerns of individual students. For more information on Raptor Technologies, visit raptortech.com.

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

Image

Latest

Royal Dublin
Mastering the Game: Akshay Bhatia and Coupa Inspire at the Royal Dublin
September 12, 2025

At the Royal Dublin, Coupa brought together community and competition with PGA pro and brand ambassador Akshay Bhatia, who shared lessons from the course that extend far beyond golf. His message, “Master your swing. Master your spend,” underscored the power of precision, discipline, and strategy in both sport and business. The event was not just…

Read More
Coupa Customer Appreciation Day with Akshay Bhatia at The Royal Dublin
September 11, 2025

Coupa’s Customer Appreciation Day at The Royal Dublin on July, 2025, brought together PGA Tour talent Akshay Bhatia and the community for a celebration of both sport and connection. Beyond the excitement of world-class golf, Bhatia shared practical “tour-level tips” in a relaxed clinic format, offering guidance on everything from escaping rough lies to mastering…

Read More
The Royal Dublin
Coupa Spotlight: Akshay Bhatia Tees Up Teaching at The Royal Dublin
September 11, 2025

American golfer Akshay Bhatia’s teaching session at The Royal Dublin this July marks more than a summer stop—it’s a sign of how golf’s rising stars are shaping the global game. For Coupa, the event highlights the intersection of tradition and modern growth, bringing fresh attention to one of Ireland’s most historic courses. Bhatia’s presence underscores…

Read More
MeetYourClass
MeetYourClass Heads to NACAC 2025 with a Vision for the Future of Enrollment and Community On Campus
September 11, 2025

With enrollment numbers slipping and student expectations shifting, colleges are under more pressure than ever to create real, lasting connections that make students feel part of a community. Research shows that institutions lose up to 10–40% of admitted students to “summer melt” each year, a challenge that directly impacts revenue and retention. At the same…

Read More