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

Crystal Roberts, Executive Committee

​Education Program Consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education. Vast expeirence in workforce and employment training. 

Learn more about Ms. Roberts: 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

Amanda

Eastridge-English

OK

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