Verkada establishes a School Safety Advisory Board for enhanced security and surveillance solutions in educational institutions.
Verkada, a leading technology company, has announced the formation of its School Safety Advisory Board, a collaboration aimed at ensuring that its initiatives align with real-world needs in school safety. The board comprises nationally recognized leaders in school safety and security, bringing decades of experience in education leadership, law enforcement, mental health, emergency response, and technology.
The School Safety Advisory Board was launched in June 2025 and is part of Verkada's mission to protect people and places. The board's primary objective is to guide Verkada's efforts to create safer learning environments across K-12 and higher education institutions.
One of the board's members, Frank DeAngelis, is a well-known figure in school safety circles. He is the former Principal of Columbine High School and a national advocate for school safety. DeAngelis is also the founder of The DeAngelis Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting schools and community safety through evidence-based training focused on prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Another member, Ben Fernandez, served as a school psychologist and crisis intervention specialist for over 28 years in K-12 environments. Currently, he is the Director of Mental and Behavioral Health Programs at Safe and Sound Schools. Fernandez and DeAngelis will collaborate with Verkada to identify today's most pressing school safety issues.
Pat Hamilton, who spent 23 years in the 12 Five Star School District in Adams County, Colorado, holding various positions, including Chief Operating Officer, is another member of the board. Hamilton is also the Alliance Director for The "I Love U Guys" Foundation, an organisation dedicated to school safety and emergency response.
Alana O'Grady Lauk, Vice President of Public Affairs & Global Communications at Verkada, emphasized the importance of partnership, trust, and deep expertise in creating safe learning environments. She stated, "Creating safe learning environments requires more than just technology, it demands partnership, trust, and deep expertise."
Verkada's School Safety Advisory Board will advise on best practices for physical security and surveillance in schools, provide insights on emergency preparedness and response protocols, integrate technology solutions to improve real-time threat detection and communication, and address violence prevention and mental health issues within school environments.
With products deployed in over 6,500 districts and schools serving nearly 20 million students, Verkada is well-positioned to make a significant impact on school safety. This initiative builds on its existing partnerships with Safe and Sound Schools and The "I Love U Guys" Foundation.
Frank DeAngelis emphasized the need for support from educators, families, law enforcement, and technology partners in creating and maintaining safe learning environments. He stated, "We need to work together to ensure our schools are safe and secure for our children."
For precise information on the members and their contributions, checking Verkada's official announcements or contacting Verkada directly would likely provide the most accurate and detailed insights.
The School Safety Advisory Board, established by Verkada, is focused on guiding Verkada's initiatives to develop safer learning environments across K-12 and higher education institutions, integrating expertise from fields such as education-and-self-development, finance, and technology. One of the board members, Frank DeAngelis, emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts between educators, families, law enforcement, and technology partners to achieve this goal.
As part of their mission, Verkada's School Safety Advisory Board will address violence prevention and mental health issues within school environments, providing insights on emergency preparedness and response protocols, and encouraging the use of technology solutions for real-time threat detection and communication. This collaboration is an example of how finance, technology, and education-and-self-development can work together to create safer learning environments.
