John McDonald is recognized as a national leader in the school safety space and serves as the Chief Operation Officer for the Missouri School Boards’ Association, Center for Education Safety and The Council for School Safety Leadership.

John’s work protecting kids has been featured on the front page of the Washington Post and in the Showtime documentary “Active Shooter: America Under Fire,” as well as in the FBI documentaries “Echoes of Columbine” and “In the Aftermath.” John is recognized internationally as the architect of the post-Columbine tragedy safety, security, and emergency management plan, now considered a gold standard in the industry.

For 14 years, John was responsible for protecting 86,000 students and 14,000 employees as executive director of school safety for Jeffco Public Schools in Colorado. Along the way, he made a difference by leading school safety preparedness, response, and recovery efforts not just in Colorado, but also in districts around the country following various school-related tragedies. In 2016, John created the Frank DeAngelis Center for Community Safety. located in in Colorado, this first of its kind, school-owned active shooter training center has provided no-cost training to more than 12,000 first responders and educators.

Following the Sandy Hook tragedy, the White House asked John to speak about the importance of active shooter preparedness in America’s schools and the imperative of building positive relationships between schools, students, and law enforcement. John has responded to 7 school shootings throughout his career and in 2022, was awarded the prestigious Homeland Security ASTORS award for “his dedication to safeguarding our nation’s children.”

John’s work helping school districts make sense of the unimaginable so kids and teachers can get back to the business of learning goes far beyond school shootings. He led Jeffco Schools’ recovery efforts following the kidnapping and homicide of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway in Westminster, Colorado and after the public suicide of a student who intentionally set himself on fire in front of 200 students.

Often sought out as a national presenter and by media both for his insight and his willingness to share the uncomfortable truths impacting school communities, John provides support for K-12 and higher ed institutions because he believes that every student deserves a safe learning environment free from threat, intimidation, and harassment.

John earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Metro State University in Colorado. His experience as a former police officer, proud Army National Guard veteran, and senior manager of U.S. investigations for a worldwide corporation have provided the foundation for a life’s work protecting the most innocent.

John can be found on Spotify, Apple and YouTube, co-hosting the podcast series, “The Centurion’s Path”, talking with those who live a life a service to community.