Who We Are
What is LAPSEN?
In 2002, the USDoE created a Career Cluster called Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security (LPSCS). This cluster provides a framework for secondary and post-secondary schools to create curriculum and career pathways for students interested in the careers of law enforcement, fire services, security, and the like. LAPSEN is the leading national organization supporting these efforts with a focus on the secondary school level. It provides and shares LPSCS career education programs, curriculum, certifications, and models that help connect secondary students to work and colleges that are cost-effective and can be used by secondary school instructors, their partners, and participating states.
LAPSEN also works with others who are building a career pathway to LPS careers. Explorers and Public Safety Cadets, experiential learning programs, LPS agencies, professional groups like NSA and IADLEST, as well as many others partner with LAPSEN to prepare the heroes of tomorrow.
In summary – we are a nonprofit, run by educators and industry experts, here to serve those guiding young people into law and public safety careers.
The LAPSEN Booklet
This booklet gives a quick overview of what LAPSEN is, what we do, and how we can serve you.
Click Here to open.
More About LAPSEN
Recording of the session Law & Public Safety Education Network: Work Smarter
Recorded at ACTE Vision 2020
Our Mission
LAPSEN supports any entity that is supporting youth as they transition into law and public safety related careers. While educators are our biggest group, we also work with camps, Public Safety Cadets, Explorers, and many others.
Our Vision
LAPSEN will be recognized as the premier support organization for the LPS Career Cluster as it relates to secondary & postsecondary education and its connections to careers in the targeted professions.
Our immediate goal is to have a “turn-key” curriculum for all pathways as an effort to reduce attrition, improve instruction, and prepare the next generation of heroes serving our communities.
Our Board
LAPSEN is directed by a board comprised of member state CTE leaders. AdvanceCTE and ACTE also have seats on the Board. This ensures LAPSEN stays true to its primary goal of improving LPS education. For regular guidance and support, LAPSEN has an Executive Committee.
Executive Committee
Steven Watterson, Past Chair
Education Associate at South Carolina Department of Education. After a full career as a Naval Officer, service in CTAE for over 15 years!
Learn more about Mr. Watterson: Click Here
Rich Trinkwalder, Chair
Navy veteran. former criminal investigator and compliance specialist. Currently a high school instructor and adjunct professor. ACTE New and Related Services Division VP.
Learn more about Mr. Trinkwalder: Click Here
Kevin Bronson, Vice Chair
Education Program Consultant for Career, Standards and Assessment Team at Kansas State Department of Education. Educator for 25 years in areas of construction, cabinetmaking and drafting design.
Learn more about Mr. Bronson: Click Here
Candace Vinson, Secretary
Education Consultant at Michigan Department of Education, Office of Career & Technical Education, Career Readiness Unit. Over a decade working in technical education, she was a FCS teacher .
Learn more about Mrs. Vinson: Click Here
Ricky Gunkel, Treasurer
Ricky Gunkel is the Director of Programs for Oklahoma Association Chiefs of Police. He retired as a Lieutenant from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Learn more about Lt. Gunkel (ret.): Click Here
Maren Hansen, Category 1 State Representative
Education Specialist at Utah State Board of Education. She was a Health Science teacher for two decades before moving into CTE administration.
Learn more about Mrs. Hansen: Click Here
Erica Settelen, Category 2 State Representative
Academic Program Consultant for the Office of Career & Technical Education at the Kentucky Department of Education. Erica entered CTE as an Occupation-Based Educator in Culinary Arts at the secondary level and later served as a Student Achievement Coordinator.
Jordan Whittington, Category 3 State Representative
Program Director for Health and Public Safety at the Colorado Community College System. Started as a Army Combat Medic, taught Health Science and now works for the CCCS.
Learn more about Mr. Whittington: Click Here
Dave Nichols, At Large Representative
Extension Program Assistant with the MSU School of Human Sciences. Mr. Nichols also serves as the State Program Manager for Mississippi Citizen Corps of the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security.
Learn more about Mr. Nichols: Click Here
State Board Members
Carla Plyler, Alabama (ASDE)
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security Education Specialist
Learn more about Mrs. Plyler: Click Here
Cathy Gunter, Arkansas (ADE)
Division of Career and Technical Education | Pathway Advisor
Shallie Johnson , California (CDE)
Educational Programs Consultant
Learn more about Ms. Johnson: Click Here
John Woodmansee, Connecticut (CTECS)
Chief of Safety and Security, Criminal Justice and Protective Services
Learn more about Mr. Woodsmansee: Click Here
Sandra Martin, Georgia (GDOE)
Program Specialist Law & Public Safety
Learn more about Mrs. Martin: Click Here
Patricia Beardeaux, Hawai’i (HSDE)
Career & Technical Education Resource Teacher
Learn more about Mrs. Beardeaux: Click Here
Elyse Matulevich, Illinois (ISBE)
Principal Consultant -Career and Technical Education
Pending, Maryland
Special Consortium
Jenny Neiss, Minnesota (MDE)
CTE Health Science Education and Service Occupations Specialist
Learn more about Mrs. Neiss: Click Here
Allen Williams, Mississippi (MDE)
State Director – JROTC and Program Supervisor – Law & Public Safety
Learn more about Mr. Williams: Click Here
Dr. Oscar Carter, Missouri (MDESE)
Director of Skilled Technical Sciences
Learn more about Dr. Carter: Click Here
Miranda Bright, Nebraska (NDE)
Human Sciences and Education Career Field Specialist
Dr. David Barbour, North Carolina (NCDPI)
Education Consultant for Trade & Industry
Learn more about Dr. Barbour: Click Here
Frits Rizor, Ohio (ODE)
Career Technical Education Professional Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Learn more about Mr. Rizor: Click Here
Renee Reed, Oklahoma (ODCT)
Trade and Industrial Education Program Manager
Learn more about Mrs. Reed: Click Here
Pennsylvania, Pending
Kira Hassler-Newsom, Texas (TPSA)
Texas Public Service Association is a member of LAPSEN and represents instructors in Texas.
Learn more about Mrs. Hassler-Newsom: Click Here
Kelly Glenn, Virginia (Special)
Kelly represents the teachers of Virginia on special assignment.
Learn more about Mrs. Glenn: Click Here
Ruth Durkee, Vermont (VDE)
State Director of Career Technical Education at the Vermont Agency of Education
Learn more about Mrs. Durkee: Click Here
Dr. Michelle Aldrich, Wyoming (WDE)
State Career and Technical Education Director
Learn more about Mrs. Aldrich: Click Here
Frank Tetrick, West Virginia (WEDE)
Coordinator of Law and Public Safety
Learn more about Mr. Tetrick: Click Here
Cohort Board Members
Jeff Branyon, Post Secondary Cohort Representative
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Director of POST Academy at Truett McConnell University. Former GBI Agent, Police Chief for Baldwin Georgia and Marshall of Dahlonega.
Learn more about Mr. Branyon: Click Here
Timothy F. Bussineau, Agency Cohort Representative
Law and Public Safety Educator at Romeo High School Health Human and Public Service Academy and Mock Trial Coach
Learn more about Mr. Bussineau: Click Here
Michael Caruso, Ph.D., School District Cohort Representative
Adjunct Professor and University Supervisor at University of Maryland Global Campus, and Instructional Program Coordinator at Prince George’s County Public Schools.
Learn more about Dr. Caruso: Click Here
Dr. Kevin Johnson, AdvanceCTE Representative
Senior Advisor at Advance CTE. He has extensive CTE administrative experience at the local, state, and national levels. Starting in the Army, his medical career led to the classroom as a health science teacher before jumping into administration.
Learn more about Dr. Johnson: Click Here
Jennifer Powell, Esq., Individual Member Representative
Criminal Justice instructor at POLYTECH High School in Delaware. Former prosecuting attorney, patrol officer and founder of StandByMe Security.
Learn more about Ms. Powell: Click Here
Chris Wood, Corporate Partner Representative
Executive Director of the National Emergency Communication Institute, NECI 9-1-1.
Learn more about Mr. Wood: Click Here
Board Partners, Members, and Advisors List
LAPSEN has an extensive network of educators, industry, and experts that serve on our advisory council
| Advisory States | ||||||
| Jason | Wojcik | AZ DOE | Advisory State | Jason.Wojcik@azed.gov | ||
| Cale | Hutchings | IA DOE | Advisory State | cale.hutchings@iowa.gov | ||
| Rick | Schmidt | NM PED | Advisory State | Rick.Schmidt@state.nm.us | ||
| Randi | Hunewill | NV DOE | Advisory State | rhunewill@doe.nv.gov | ||
| Dale | Fowler | Texas TEA | Advisory State | Dale.Fowler@tea.texas.gov | ||
| NPO Partners | ||||||
| Michael | Connet | ACTE | NPO Partner | mconnet@acteonline.org | ||
| Rachael | Mann | ACTE | NPO Partner | rachael@teachliketed.org | ||
| Kevin | Johnson | Advance CTE | NPO Partner | kjohnson@careertech.org | ||
| Dave | Nichols | My PI | NPO Partner | dn299@msstate.edu | ||
| Ben | Williams | NAPE | NPO Partner | bwilliams@napequity.org | ||
| Peyton | Holland | NTHS | NPO Partner | pholland@nths.org | ||
| Brandon | Hudson | SkillsUSA | NPO Partner | bhudson@skillsusa.org | ||
| Patrick | Joyce | TEFGA | NPO Partner | pmaj.ga@gmail.com | ||
| Corporate Partners | ||||||
| Mark | Johnson | iCEV | Partner | Mark.Johnson@cevmultimedia.com | ||
| Sandi | Davies | IFPO | Partner | sandidavies@ifpo.org | ||
| Chris | Wood | NECI | Partner | chris@neci911.com | ||
| Chris | Lieber | 911simulators.com | Partner | chris.lieber@911simulators.com | ||
| Dave | Schott | Trial Pro | Partner | dschott@trialpro.law | ||
| Jody | Smith | Youscience | Partner | jody.smith@youscience.com | ||
| Partnering School Districts | ||||||
| Rose | Giangregorio | Burlington Technical Center | School District | rgiangre@bsdvt.org | ||
| Michele | Gray | Cape May County Technical School District | School District | mgray@capemaytech.com | ||
| Charlotte Co, FL | School District | pending | ||||
| Kim | Yancy | Dallas ISD, Texas | School District | KYancy@dallasisd.org | ||
| Stacey | Hervey | Denver, CO | School District | stacey_hervey@dpsk12.org | ||
| Carrie | Hernandez | Las Cruces, NM | School District | chernandez@lcps.net | ||
| Crystal | Nowka | Oakland MI | School District | Crystal.Nowka@oakland.k12.mi.us | ||
| Teresa | Bender | Omaha Public School | School District | teresa.bender@ops.org | ||
| Michael | Caruso | Prince Georges County | School District | michael.caruso@pgcps.org | ||
| Erik | Marvin | Southern Westchester BOCES | School | emarvin@swboces.org | ||
| Ron | Hoke | Vicennes University | College | rhoke@vinu.edu | ||
| Valarie | Purl | Warren Tech North, Co | School District | vpurl@jeffco.k12.co.us | ||
| Michelle | Ronga | West Contra Costa USD, CA | School District | mronga@lcps.net | ||
| Jerilyn | Muccio | Westerly, RI | School District | jmuccio@westerly.k12.ri.us | ||
| State Representatives | ||||||
| Lori | Gray | Arizona | State Representative | lori.gray@lhusd.org | ||
| Christopher | DeRosa | Connecticut | State Representative | Christopher.DeRosa@cttech.org | ||
| Jennifer | Powell | Delaware | State Representative | jennifer.powell@polytech.k12.de.us | ||
| Mandy | Pugh | Georgia | State Representative | amanda.pugh@barrow.k12.ga.us | ||
| Arnold | Laanui | Hawaii | State Representative | arnold.laanui@k12.hi.us | ||
| Kristen | Tirado | Massachusetts | State Representative | ktirado@smithtec.org | ||
| Kelly | Glenn | Virginia | State Representative | glennkm@lcsedu.net | ||
| Julius | Jackson | Washington, DC | State Representative | julius.jackson@k12.dc.gov | ||
| Savannah | Hammond | West Virginia | State Representative | savanna.hammond@k12.wv.us | ||
| Pathway Specialists | ||||||
| Wayne | Bailey | Blue Ridge Mountain Drones | Drone Pathway Specialist | wayne.bailey59@gmail.com | ||
| Heather | Joyner | Franklin County Emergency Communications | Dispatch Pathway Specialist | heather@thepsapconsultinggroup.com | ||
| Sam | Bishop | Hunter Huss High School | EMT Pathway Specialist | |||
| Bob | DiPietro | Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology | Fire & Public Safety Pathway Specialist | rdipietro14@gmail.com | ||
| Jeff | Branyon | Truitt McConnell University | Forensics Pathway Specialist | jeffbranyon@gmail.com | ||
| Tim | Hart | Cambridge High School | Law Enforcement Pathway Specialist | hartt@fultonschools.org | ||