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
Dr. Oscar Carter, Chair
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
Krissy Miller, Vice Chair
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
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, Interim 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
Kevin Bronson, Executive Committee – Category 1 State Representative
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
Allen Williams, Executive Committee – Category 2 State Representative
State JROTC and Law & Public Safety Director at the Mississippi Department of Education. Former Intelligence Specialist for the USAF, aerospance science instructor, and Director of Recruitment at Tulane University School of Professional Advancement and LPS instructor.
Learn more about Mr. Williams: Click Here
Jordan Whittington, Executive Committee – 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, Executive Committee – 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
Dr. David Barbour, State Representative
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
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
Cindy Beck, State Representative
Health Careers Education Programs Consultant for the California Department of Education. Vast expierence in health care, mental health and work with HOSA.
Learn more about Ms. Beck: Click Here
Miranda Bright, State Representative
Human Sciences and Education Career Field Specialist for the Nebraska Department of Education. Former Family and Consumer Sciences Educator and FCCLA sponsor.
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
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
Kira Hassler-Newsom, Special State Representative
Former forensic scientist and dispatcher is currently a high school Criminal Justice instructor. Texas Public Service Association is a special member of LAPSEN and represents instructors in Texas.
Learn more about Mrs. Hassler-Newsom: Click Here
Deja Luckett, State Representative
Associate Director for Career and Technical Education at the Illinois Community College Board. She has broad experience in research and leading projects in post secondary institutions.
Learn more abou Ms. Luckett: 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
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.
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
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., Indiviudal 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
Rich Trinkwalder, ACTE LPS Section President
Navy veteran and former criminal investigator and compliance specialist. Currently a high school Law and Justice instructor and adjunct professor.
Learn more about Mr. Trinkwalder: 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 | ||