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It was beyond powerful.  The strength and courage that it takes to provide insight and support is immeasurable by any standard.  The administrators walked away with a new perspective on not only crisis preparedness and response planning, but also a new perspective of the human connection in our work as educators.  Bureaucracy causes us to lose sight of our true mission.
 
Thank you for your support in planning the event, and we look forward to working with you again in the future! 

Jeri Callaway
Director, ROE SchoolWorks

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Michele’s outstanding keynote address was well received by the 800+ school resource officers in attendance and it truly set the stage for a powerful close to our national school safety conference.

Mo Canady, Executive Director, National Association of School Resource Officers, NASRO

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Thanks for speaking at Middlesex Partnerships for Youth’s 2014 School Safety Summit. Your compelling address about the need for upgrading school safety measures was well received. You are an eloquent speaker and the 250+ conference participants were hanging on your every word. Thanks for making this conference so special. Many of our participants told us that it was the best School Safety Summit they had ever attended and that having you as a speaker was the reason why!

Margie Daniels, Executive Director, Middlesex Partnerships for Youth

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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​Everything went really well. We had a complication with her electronic presentation, but it was all cleared up before she was on. I have to tell you, I’ve been doing this conference for 19 years and she was one of the best keynotes we’ve ever had. The feedback from the participants was amazing. Also, while she was speaking you could have heard a pin drop in a room with over 450 people, plus servers.

Leah Galkowski, Coordinator
Center for Safe Schools

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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​Oh my goodness.  It was one of the best trainings.  I am still hearing compliments even today, one week after the training. 
Melissa and Michele are clearly professionals and experts in their field.  
Michele took us through her journey at just the right speed and at just the right depth.  This enabled us to learn while not be overwhelmed with emotion.  It was a beautiful tribute to Josephine.

Julie Pendley,
Director of Special Education & School Psychologist,
Muhlenberg County Schools

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Michele was absolutely wonderful in every way!  We loved her!  Her presentation was riveting and our entire group was impacted greatly by her story.  I know our superintendents will be adjusting or refining their safety protocols in their districts because of her first-hand experience of that horrible tragedy.  I had people say how much they appreciated how she began her presentation, setting the tone of how deeply personal it was for her to tell her story.  She gave permission for the audience to be free to react as they needed to and was so articulate as she communicated the event. You could hear a pin drop in the room.  I watched many of the faces of those around me and they were like sponges taking in everything she said.  You could tell they were absorbing the event as if it would happen to them ... and it very well could.  I heard nothing but rave reviews and gratitude for the unique opportunity to hear her (and Frank DeAngelis last year).  It was an incredible afternoon spent with her.  She is delightful and made us feel like we had always known her.  It was sad to see her go.
 
We have been so impressed with Safe & Sound Schools and working through you at Kirkland.  Cannot thank you enough for the chance to have had Michele and Frank share their stories with us.  

Carrie Zandi,
Administrative Assistant,
Large Unit District Association of Illinois

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Michele’s presentation, ‘A Mother’s Perspective to School Safety’ was eye-opening on many levels. We believe that hearing her story on how events truly unfolded really puts a different perspective on school safety. It shows how important it is for all levels of administration, from principals down to the teachers… [to] be ready to jump into any role that is needed at the time of an emergency.

Jamia McDonald, Executive Director, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, RIEMA

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Michele’s presentations to parents, educators, and policy makers provide the perfect balance of emotion and practical guidance. She promotes an approach to school safety that strikes the important balance between physical and psychological safety. Her efforts have helped to ensure schools have comprehensive safety and crisis plans, with special attention being given to reunification and recovery.

Stephen E. Brock, Ph.D., NCSP, LEP, Past President, National Association of School Psychologists, NASP

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The day was great and I am sure that Michele’s presence was a huge factor.  We started out expecting 150-160 and had an attendance of 240.  Michele’s presence and message was incredible.  We are already talking about possibly having her back some time for a somewhat different audience.  Thanks to you and Gina for helping everything to come together quite smoothly.

D. Michael Baxter, MD
Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Reading Hospital

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Michele Gay spoke at our conference this past week. She was amazing. Her message was inspirational as well as educational. As school business professionals, we all learned ideas and tips to be mindful of back at our schools. Michele gave us first-hand, useful knowledge to take back to our districts with us. If Michele presents at your event, you will not be disappointed!

Jeffrey LaPorta,
​Association of School Business Officials - Maryland/DC

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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We loved Michele!! Our conference attendees were amazed at her and the quality of her presentation. I spoke to Michele about ARMEA partnering with Safe & Sound Schools on future projects. Thanks again!

Deb Swink, Co-Chair,
Arkansas Mental Health in Education

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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As usual, Michele was well-received and did an amazing presentation. We couldn’t find one negative thing to say if we tried. 
Thanks again for your assistance.

Chip Yeaton, President
Massachusetts Juvenile Police Officer's Association

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Michele and Lisa were the highlights of the day.  The message that they delivered fit perfectly with the audience expectations. Their presentations couldn’t have been better.  They were absolutely fantastic.  Administrators are taking suggestions back to their school divisions.  I can’t thank you enough for taking care of everything on your end.

Jeff Terry, Director of Technology, Roanoke County Public Schools

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Michele was outstanding! I received multiple verbal comments from attendees how it was one of the best, if not the best, presentation of the event. She was easy to work with, and we enjoyed our time with her.

Lynn Chernich, Program Manager,
National Criminal Justice Training Center,
Fox Valley Technical College

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Michele's presentation was stellar!  It got real dusty in the room at the end of the presentation.  Very impactful!
The comments received from attendees regarding the entire day were outstanding.

J. Brett Carruthers,
Director of Risk Management,
New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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She was fantastic, per usual. This is the fourth event that Michele and I have worked on in the last 10 months – and she was stronger than ever during her keynote and as a member of our panel. We think she is great – and so did our audience!

Cathy Longley, Communications Manager,
National Fire Protection Association

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          Michele was FANTASTIC!  She was just what we needed.  She did a wonderful job relating to our audience.  Many, many staff have commented how moved they were by her.  It takes incredible courage to not only share her story, but to turn tragedy into something positive through her advocacy work.  She really helped the NICS staff, 900+ strong, to feel appreciated and she helped to drive home a very important message that we all need to hear and recognize – that the work we are doing, does indeed make a difference.  Michele received TWO standing ovations during her 60 minutes with us.
 
Please pass along our absolute gratitude to the entire crew there at Kirkland Productions.  You have all made the process very smooth and you were most patient and helpful to us.

Jill Montgomery,
Management & Program Analyst,
Federal Bureau of Investigation

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Want to talk with us about MICHELE GAY?