Instructors & Practitioners

A dynamic serial entrepreneur and technologist who has dedicated his career to building innovative companies and solving real-world problems. Four years ago, a personal experience ignited a new mission for him after both his grandchild and son were terrified during separate incidents. Chuck set out to transform how schools handle lockdowns.

Lockdown situations, whether real or drills, can create overwhelming anxiety, fear, and helplessness for everyone involved. Chuck’s latest venture, RedBag, aims to alleviate these feelings by empowering students and staff with the knowledge and tools they need during such emergencies. With RedBag, they will know exactly what to do, know what's happening, and know how to get help.

Having participated in hundreds of lockdown drills and several real lockdown events, Chuck brings a unique and invaluable perspective to the table. His insights and experiences are shaping a safer, more prepared environment for schools everywhere.

Carly Posey is a nationally recognized speaker and advocate for school safety and community preparedness. Her journey in safety advocacy began after a life-altering experience on December 14, 2012, when two of her four children were inside Sandy Hook Elementary School during the tragic events that forever changed the nation. Carly’s youngest son bravely escaped from his first-grade classroom, while her daughter remained hidden in an art room. Her older two children, attending the nearby intermediate school, were placed in lockdown for hours. This tragedy ignited Carly’s passion for supporting schools, districts, first responders and communities in strengthening safety protocols and emergency responses.

Carly has since held impactful leadership positions within the safety and security industry, including serving as the Mission Director at The “I Love U Guys” Foundation, where she spearheaded reunification and crisis response initiatives, and as the Executive Director of Safe2Tell, a nationally acclaimed anonymous reporting program. She also served as the Program Director for Anderson Software, focusing on enhancing public safety communication and support. Today, as Vice President of RedBag, she continues her work to create safer environments.

Prior to her work in school safety, Carly and her husband successfully owned and operated multiple businesses for over 20 years, leading a team of more than 50 employees. Known for her dynamic and relatable speaking style, Carly effectively translates complex safety concepts into actionable strategies that resonate with audiences. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband, Dave, and their four children.

Amyla Boles is a dedicated advocate for school and community safety. As a survivor of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, she brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to her work. Amyla previously contributed her experience at the I Love U Guys Foundation, where she played a role in advancing programs that support emergency preparedness and response in schools.

Currently residing in Parker, Colorado, with her husband, Amyla remains committed to fostering safer environments for students, educators, and communities nationwide. Her experiences and passion continue to inspire meaningful change in the realm of school safety.

Chris Zimmerman is a dedicated principal in the Douglas County School District in Colorado, where he has served for the past 17 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. In addition to his leadership at the school level, Chris is an active member of the district safety committee, a board member of the Colorado Association of School Resource Officers, and a respected national safety trainer and speaker. With a deep passion for student safety and well-being, Chris is committed to fostering a school environment that champions equity, advocacy, and personalized support for every learner. His work reflects a steadfast dedication to ensuring that all students can thrive in a secure and nurturing educational setting.

Andy Arnold spent four years as a professional educator before transitioning to Law Enforcement. He served in many capacities in his policing career to include Supervision, Patrol, Investigative, and Tactical Operations. Andy’s supervisory and tactical experience paved the way for an assignment as a High-Threat Diplomatic Security contractor at the United States Embassy-Kabul. After returning from Afghanistan, Andy continued his service through the Department of the Army Directorate of Emergency Services.

Andy has served as a full-time Instructor for The “I Love U Guys Foundation” where he became a nationally known school safety presenter. Andy founded The American Excellence Initiative (AEI) to elevate leadership, bolster wellness, and foster resilience. He has been and continues to be a lifelong student and practitioner of leadership, effective communication, and optimal performance.

Ian C. Lopez has over 25 years of experience in law enforcement and school district safety. He currently serves as Director of Safety & Security for the Cherry Creek School District, leading a 150-member team responsible for emergency preparedness, investigations, and physical security across 80 schools serving 55,000 students.

A retired Police Commander with the Northglenn Police Department, Ian led patrol operations, training, and tactical response. As a SWAT Team Leader, he directed high-risk operations and played a critical role in major incidents, including the 2017 Thornton Wal-Mart shooting. He received five Meritorious Service Awards and a Purple Heart.

Ian is President of CASSLEO, a member of NASRO, and a frequent speaker at state and national safety conferences. He has led over 600 school lockdown drills and played a key role in regional emergency planning and response coordination.

Michael Peck is a seasoned educator with nearly two decades of experience serving in various capacities, including teacher, coach, and administrator. In these roles, he also acted as a campus safety liaison, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to ensuring safe and supportive learning environments.

Drawing upon his extensive experience within the educational system, Michael now specializes in school safety planning and reunification planning. He is dedicated to partnering with schools to develop comprehensive emergency management plans, create effective safety-related instructional materials, and collaborate with administrators to enhance safety processes.

Michael develops and leads both functional exercises and tabletop drills to help schools prepare for various emergency scenarios. As an experienced trainer and passionate school safety advocate, he brings a unique educator's perspective to the conversation, working directly with school districts to develop robust reunification plans that prioritize the well-being of students and families.

Staci Batterson is a dedicated public school educator in the Douglas County School District with over 20 years of experience as a teacher and administrator at both the high school and middle school levels. Within her administrative role, Staci oversees the safety and security of her building. She is a national reunification and SRP trainer and believes that buildings staffed with trusted adults create safe and welcoming spaces for students.

Along with her work in school safety, Staci is also a leader in the women and girls advocacy movement, and the founder and CEO of Shine Girl, whose mission is to empower girls to build confidence, strengthen their leadership skills, and recognize their worth. She holds a B.A. from Colorado State University and a Master’s in Administrative Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Colorado. Her passion for leadership is matched only by her commitment to creating inclusive, student-centered spaces.

Jeff Pierson brings 31 years of experience in education and school leadership, including roles as a teacher, head coach, athletic director, high school principal, parent, and Executive Director of School Safety for Jeffco Public Schools. His extensive experience in schools, combined with eight years of dedicated leadership in school safety, has given him a practical, school-based perspective on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from critical incidents. For the past eight years, Jeff has led efforts to strengthen school safety systems across Jeffco Public Schools, with a particular focus on incident command, emergency response, threat management, and student reunification. He played a key role in redesigning and improving the district’s incident command and reunification processes, including establishing clearer roles, responsibilities, decision-making authority, and organizational hierarchy during emergencies. His work focused on creating systems that are practical for school leaders and can be effectively implemented under the pressure and uncertainty of a real crisis.

Jeff also developed and implemented a mandatory three-hour School Administrator Training Academy for all Jeffco administrators providing school leaders with practical preparation in school safety, threat management, incident command, emergency response, and reunification. Administrators also participated in tabletop scenarios designed to challenge decision-making, communication, leadership, and coordination during realistic school emergency situations. A significant component of Jeff’s work has been strengthening emergency reunification practices. He has worked with schools to clarify leadership responsibilities, develop more effective reunification structures, and improve the coordination necessary to safely account for students and staff and reunite students with their families following an emergency.

Prior to his school safety leadership role in JEFFCO, Jeff served for eight years as the Principal of Standley Lake High School. That experience reinforced his belief that effective school safety begins long before an emergency occurs as he navigated a number of school tragedies that were felt by the entire community. Strong relationships, positive school culture, effective communication, and a supportive learning environment are essential components of both physical and psychological safety. Jeff approaches school safety from the perspective of a practitioner and school leader. His training emphasizes clear systems, defined responsibilities, practical decision-making, and realistic preparation not simply policies and procedures. He is passionate about helping school leaders build the knowledge, confidence, and organizational structures necessary to lead effectively before, during, and after a critical incident.

Jeff currently serves as the Interim Principal at Jefferson Academy Secondary School in Broomfield, Colorado.