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
Dr. David Barbour, Past Chair
Education Consultant for Trade & Industry at North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Over two decades working in technical education.
Learn more about Dr. Barbour: Click Here
Steven Watterson, 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
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 Family Consumer Science teacher before moving into administration.
Learn more about Mrs. Vinson: Click Here
Dr. Thomas Washburn, Treasurer
A recent retiree as Program Specialist for LPSCS pathways for Fulton County Schools (Atlanta, Georgia) and classroom teacher at the Cambridge Law & Justice Program (Milton, Georgia). Tom is the Executive Director for LAPSEN
Learn more about Dr. Washburn: Click Here
Cindy Beck, Executive Committee
Health Careers Education Programs Consultant for the California Department of Education. Vast expeirence in health care, mental health and work with HOSA.
Learn more about Ms. Beck: Click Here
Dr. Dex Brookins, Executive Committee
State Director for JROTC, LPS, Law Enforcement, Fire Science, and PM for the Military Star Program for the Mississippi Department of Education. Army veteran with extensive experience.
Learn more about Dr. Brookins: Click Here
Kevin Bronson, Executive Committee
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
Board Members
Patricia Beardeaux, State Representative
After working in the private sector for over 15 years plus teaching middle school, Mrs. Beardeaux is the Career & Technical Education Resource Teacher for the Hawaii State Department of Education.
Learn more about Mrs. Beardeaux: Click Here
Dr. Joseph N. Coffee, Member Emeritus
Over three decades working with career programs across the nation. 20 years of experience working with Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security programs. Formerly worked with the ATF. Joe is the past Executive Director for LAPSEN.
Learn more about Dr. Coffee: Click Here
Dr. Oscar Carter, State Representative
Director of Skilled Technical Sciences at the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. Over three decades working in technical education.
Learn more about Dr. Carter: Click Here
Maren Hansen, 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
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
Sandra Martin, State Representative
Georgia Department of Education Program Specialist. After several decades working in technical education, she was a former registered dental hygienist and then a Health Science teacher before moving into administration.
Learn more about Mrs. Martin: Click Here
Krissy Miller, State Representative
Program Specialist at Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. She spent many years in industry before before moving into administration.
Learn more about Mrs. Miller: Click Here
Erica Settelen, 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 and Building Assessment Coordinator overseeing logistics, improvements, and resources for state, district, and CTE assessments in pursuit of graduating all high school students post-secondary ready. In her current role as Academic Program Consultant for OCTE, she supports teachers in Media Arts, Law & Public Safety, and JROTC pathways and serves as an advocate to instill growth and positive changes that ensure KY CTE alignment to industry needs to prepare highly marketable students to enter the workforce and mitigate the pipeline deficits, a specific area of focus for LPS professions.
Lauren-Anne Sledzinski, Special State Representative
Instructional Specialist Trade & Industrial Education and Related Clusters at Virginia Department of Education. She spent several years as a trainer in criminal justice as well as a high school LPS teacher before moving into administration.
Learn more about Mrs. Sledzinski: Click Here
Frank Tetrick, State Representative
Coordinator of Law and Public Safety at West Virginia Department of Education. Mr. Tetrick recently moved into LPS administration after serving in other coordinator positions.
Learn more about Mr. Tetrick: Click Here
Kristina Valentine, State Representative
Human and Public Services Principal Consultant at Illinois State Board of Education. Over 14 years as a high school teacher before serving our LPS teachers in Illinois.
Learn more about Mrs. Valentine: Click Here
Jordan Whittington, 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
Board Partners, Members, and Advisors List
LAPSEN has an extensive network of educators, industry, and experts that serve on our advisory council.
| First | Last | Organization | Membership |
| David | Barbour | NC DPI | Past Chair – Term Ends 10/23 |
| Steve | Watterson | SC DOE | Chair – Term End 10/23 |
| Open | Vice-Chair | ||
| Candace | Vinson | MI DOE | Secretary – Term ends 10/24 |
| Thomas | Washburn | LAPSEN | Treasurer – Term ends 10/22 |
| Cindy | Beck | CA DOE | State – Term ends 10/23 |
| Dex | Brookins | MS DOE | State – Term ends 10/24 |
| Crystal | Roberts | KS DOE | State – Term ends 10/22 |
| Jordan | Whittington | CO CCS | State Member |
| Sandra | Martin | GA DOE | State Member |
| Patricia | Beardeaux | Hawaii | State Member |
| Kristina | Valentine | Illinois | State Member |
| Erica | Settelen | KY DOE | State Member |
| Oscar | Carter XL | MO DESE | State Member |
| Krissy | Miller | Oklahoma | State Member |
| Maren | Hansen | UT SBE | State Member |
| Lauren-Anne | Sledzinski | Virginia | Special State Member |
| Frank | Tetrick | West Virginia | State Member |
| Kevin | Johnson | Advance CTE | NPO Partner |
| LAPSEN Board Advisory Committee | |||
| Cale | Hutchings | IA DOE | Advisory State |
| Rick | Schmidt | NM PED | Advisory State |
| Randi | Hunewill | NV DOE | Advisory State |
| Dale | Fowler | Texas TEA | Advisory State |
| Kira | Hassler-Newsom | TPSA | NPO Partner |
| Michael | Connet | ACTE | NPO Partner |
| Rachael | Mann | ACTE | NPO Partner |
| Ben | Williams | NAPE | NPO Partner |
| Peyton | Holland | NTHS | NPO Partner |
| Gibson | Darren | SkillsUSA | NPO Partner |
| Patrick | Joyce | TEFGA | NPO Partner |
| Mark | Johnson | iCEV | Partner |
| Sandi | Davies | IFPO | Partner |
| Lisa | Cacao | Microburst Learning | Partner |
| Chris | Wood | NECI | Partner |
| Chris | Lieber | 911simulators.com | Partner |
| Tony | Sanders | SAVE | Partner |
| Jody | Smith | Youscience | Partner |
| Chip | Depietro | Charlotte Co, FL | School District |
| Stacey | Hervey | Denver, CO | School District |
| Carrie | Hernandez | Las Cruces, NM | School District |
| Patricia | Blades | West Contra Costa USD, CA | School District |
| Jerilyn | Muccio | Westerly, RI | School District |
| Crystal | Nowka | Oakland MI | School District |
| Prince Georges County | |||
| Christopher | DeRosa | CT | State Representative |
| Julius | Jackson | DC | State Representative |
| Chip | DePietro | FL | State Representative |
| Kristen | Tirado | MA | State Representative |
| Lori | Gray | AZ | State Representative |
| Lori | Gray | AZ | State Representative |
| Mandy | Pugh | GA | State Representative |
| Arnold | Laanui | HI | State Representative |
| Kelly | Glenn | VA | State Representative |
| Savannah | Hammond | WV | State Representative |
| Jennifer | Powell | DE | State Representative |
| Wayne | Bailey | Blue Ridge Mountain Drones | Drone Pathway Specialist |
| Heather | Joyner | Franklin County Emergency Communications | Dispatch Pathway Specialist |
| Sam | Bishop | Hunter Huss High School | EMT Pathway Specialist |
| Bob | DiPietro | Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology | Fire & Public Safety Pathway Specialist |
| Jeff | Branyon | Marshal, City of Dahlonega | Forensics Pathway Specialist |
| Tim | Hart | Cambridge High School | Law Enforcement Pathway Specialist |
| Kevin | Sparks | Peach County Schools | Security Pathway Specialist |