Missy Dodds is a speaker working with Kirkland Productions through Safe and Sound Schools.

About

On Monday, March 21, 2005, Missy Dodds’ life was forever changed. A former student shot his way into her classroom at Red Lake High School in Northwest Minnesota. He killed a teacher and five of her students before taking his own life. Since that day, Missy has worked hard on her healing journey. This journey has taken her down many roads: learning to live with PTSD, the difference between being a victim and being a survivor and learning to allow her own children to experience and love school as much as she did. These paths have led Missy to becoming a school safety and mental health advocate. While Missy no longer teaches high school math, she is passionate about sharing what she has learned to help schools, parents and communities understand the importance of a comprehensive approach to school safety and recovery. 

Missy’s court case, Dodds vs Red Lake School District Workman’s Comp, helped to change the law in Minnesota to include PTSD as a viable workman’s comp claim. In 2015, Missy shared her story of recovery in the award-winning documentary, Red Lake, produced by Billy Luther. In 2018, Missy joined Safe and Sound Schools as a National Parent Ambassador and now serves as a regular speaker and outreach and training specialist for the national school safety non-profit.  In 2022, Missy received the Outstanding Service Award from the Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma for her work in school safety.  She also serves as a parent representative for her local school district’s Emergency Operation Planning Committee and on her local Boys and Girls Club’s Program and Safety Committee. 

Born and raised in Arkansas, she lives in Northwest Minnesota with her husband and three children. Missy holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Central Arkansas and a Master of Science in Mathematics Education from Bemidji State University. 

popular programs

Choosing to Survive: Lessons From Red Lake
(Keynote, 1-2 hours)

In “Choosing to Survive: Lessons from Red Lake,” Missy shares both her personal journey of navigating life after a school shooting and her quest to understand how a school shooting can even happen. Through the pain, guilt and hard decisions, she is open and honest about her struggles, successes and how she now defines acceptance. Missy also shares how she found her “missing piece”—the answer to what she believes could have prevented the events on March 21, 2005. 

Missy’s presentation is suited for all educators, school-based law enforcement, school-based mental health providers, and community stakeholders.
Q&A Sessions
Missy is available to participate on a variety of Q&A panels. She is open and honest about her story, her journey and how she is helping to change views of school shooters and make schools safer.

/

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Missy provides a heart-wrenching and heart-warming presentation regarding her experience with a school shooting.  She reminds us that safer schools are the responsibility of the entire community - the entire community, not just educators and parents.  We are challenged to do something and build those safe and healthy connections between our students, educators, and community at large.

Nicole Lentz
​Manager of Pharmacy Academics
Vivent Health

MORE REVIEWS

Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Want to talk with us about Missy Dodds?

Fill out this inquiry form and we will reach out within the next business day.
    Note: We never use phone numbers for marketing. If you'd rather not provide a phone number, then please be sure to watch your junk mail folder for a few days after you submit this form.