Co-Founder
Safe & Sound Schools, United States
Mother, educator, and co-founder of the national nonprofit, Safe and Sound Schools, Michele Gay chose to act after losing her daughter Josephine Grace on December 14, 2012, in the Sandy Hook School tragedy. Since that time, Michele has built a powerful legacy in her daughter’s honor, and as a nationally recognized advocate for improved safety and security of schools and communities.
An elementary educator with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Michele taught in Maryland and Virginia public schools and served as a supervising teacher before moving to Sandy Hook in Newtown, CT, in 2006.
Now a nationally recognized leader, public speaker, school safety advocate, and expert in her own right, Michele teaches and trains diverse audiences, working alongside local stakeholders and national experts across the disciplines of safety. An educator, mother, and survivor of tragedy herself, Michele is uniquely positioned as a leader and expert in the field. She has dedicated her life to honoring Josephine’s memory by ensuring that every school, every child, and every community is truly safe and sound.
Compassion in Crisis—How Officers Can Support Victims’ Families in the Aftermath of Mass Violence
Saturday, October 18, 2025
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM MT