About

Susan Payne, the Founder and Former Executive Director of the Safe2Tell non-profit prevention initiative developed as a response to the Columbine tragedy in Colorado. Susan, a 28-year law enforcement veteran, served in this role as a Detective from Colorado Springs Police Department; the first Special Agent with the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and she served as the Director of Safe Schools at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office directing the Safe2Tell Colorado prevention initiative. Susan Payne, has assisted many states in establishing best practice intelligence gathering and information sharing initiatives to focus on prevention and early intervention. Ms. Payne currently is an adviser and speaker for Safe and Sound Schools, she trains on digital threat assessment for Safer Schools Together, and serves on the National School Safety Consortium. ​The U.S. Department of Justice, The U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education have recognized Susan as a subject matter expert in school safety, response, recovery and prevention strategies, and she is often sought out by media, schools, and law enforcement for her expertise. Ms. Payne has been invited to speak at the White House on several occasions, but specifically after Columbine, Sandy Hook and most recently after the tragedy in Parkland. Most recently, Ms. Payne was requested to speak to the Federal School Safety Commission at the White House and to Keynote at the Department of Homeland Security School Safety Round Tables in Washington D. C.

popular Programs

20 years after Columbine: To Protect and Educate
Having served for 20 years with the Colorado Department of Public Safety and Attorney General’s Office following the tragedy at Columbine and founding the nationally recognized Safe2Tell anonymous reporting system, Susan Payne shares a unique perspective on the history and future of school safety. Based on her professional experience and the Federal Commission on School Safety’s recent final report, Susan charts a roadmap for school safety improvement based on lessons learned, best practices in the field and across the country to protect and educate students in today’s world.
 
2.5 – 3 hours + Q & A
 
Ideal audience is key stakeholders in school safety and prevention, school staff, law enforcement, crisis response teams and emergency managers, parents and community partners.
 
Tech Needs:  Screen, projector, sound and microphone
​You Received an Anonymous Tip! Now What?
(Breakout Session)
​How do we strengthen relationships within our school buildings and foster a culture of reporting within our student population and school community? Susan Payne, national school safety expert and founder of Safe2Tell shares critical lessons learned from building and operating the first successful statewide anonymous reporting tool for students in the United States. She provides a best practice framework for intelligence gathering, information sharing, and protected methods of student reporting (e.g. tip-lines). She shares strategies of implementation through partnerships and collaboration, and teaches effective strategies for violence prevention and intervention in order to reduce liability and above all things, protect students.
 
1.5 - 3 hours + Q&A
 
Ideal audience is school multi-discipline team members including administrators, counselors, social workers, school nurses, crisis team members, school resource officers, juvenile detectives, and prosecutors.
 
Tech Needs:  Screen, projector, sound, and microphone
SChool safety, prevention and early intervention: the standard of care to protect and educate
Susan shares lessons learned, opportunities and challenges in an ever changing “new normal” of school safety where educators are expected to protect and to educate.  We know that children must feel safe and protected to learn, achieve and be successful to their full potential.  Susan will share research, best practices focused on prevention and early intervention.  Best practice strategies of bystander reporting, information sharing, safety intervention and defensibility will be shared. 

2 - 3.5 hours
 
Tech Needs:  Screen, projector, sound, and microphone
KOAA 5 news report on Safe2Tell, Susan Payne's prevention initiative

Want to talk with us about Susan Payne?

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.