A Collaborative Approach to Student Safety

At GoGuardian, we take a consultative approach to supporting schools in creating safer, more supportive environments for students. By working closely with counselors and district leaders, we ensure GoGuardian Beacon is tailored to meet the unique needs of each school, helping them address student well-being in a way that aligns with their resources and goals. 

This customized approach enhances safety and provides the flexibility to adapt as circumstances evolve. But our commitment doesn’t end at implementation — ongoing support and regular check-ins are key to ensuring schools can continue to respond to the ever-changing needs of their students.

Tracy Clements, education strategist for student safety and mental health for GoGuardian, says products like GoGuardian Beacon are foundational to creating a safer learning environment in many ways. “If you're looking at anything from academic achievement to attendance, and of course, student safety, the foundation of all that is having students who feel supported and safe. We talk about Beacon all the time in terms of providing that support. But from a school perspective, we don’t just focus on safety — it also enhances attendance and grades. Utilizing Beacon enables schools to meet kids where they are and identify those who need help.”

This is why districts must work together with their edtech partners. A tool is just a tool - it cannot act independently. Unless one participates in the behind-the-scenes work that must be invested to protect student lives, all you have is a program on a computer. “Because virtually every school is under-resourced with counselors, many need something that can help their teams work smarter, not harder,” Clements elaborates.

Schools must first build this strong foundation of support for their students, and Beacon is a solid start. “It has the flexibility where if you have a system in place, it can fit into that. If you don’t have a good system, its framework can help you build one.”

Dr. Kevin Dorsey, product operations manager for GoGuardian Beacon, highlights its customizable onboarding. “We work with counselors and administrators to tailor Beacon to their needs. Implementing any new technology can be stressful, but that’s why we are here. We’ve been in their shoes. When they ask questions, we’re here to deliver answers.”

Understanding the “why”

Clements notes a large struggle many district leaders have - an overabundance of features and insufficient guidance as to why those features exist. “Kevin and I have both used Beacon in previous roles, so we have the unique ability to be able to walk them through the practical applications. It’s not just, “Here’s this feature,” but rather, “What is the point of this feature?’”

“We’re able to ask questions that aren’t coming from a sales engineer perspective; they’re more operational,” Dorsey adds. For example, customization is key when it comes to creating escalation lists. Detailed conversations about who might be on the first tier and who should be on the second tier of alerts can help mitigate the number of alerts going out simultaneously. Here at GoGuardian, “set it and forget it” is not our philosophy - we take a consulting approach to dig deep into the needs of schools.

“It’s not just from a technology standpoint. It’s about the why and how: Helping them understand how it works, how they can use it, and how it’s best going to fit into their existing systems with the resources they have,” Clements explains. Administrators need help - we fully understand this. We take each step with you rather than diving straight into the deep end. “Alert fatigue is real, and we want to make sure it’s a help, not a hindrance.”

Adapting to ever-evolving needs

Just as learning environments and home circumstances change for students, so do district personnel and needs. Dorsey firmly believes the configuration for Beacon should be reevaluated periodically due to curricular resources, staffing changes, and breaks. “You need to adjust your settings to meet the capacity of your system at any given time,” he suggests.

Clements also notes administrators need to ensure Beacon is set up in a way that allows for adjustments as a school’s resources and needs fluctuate. “I want them to embrace and understand it, not be afraid to make adjustments that will help them in the long run.” In her personal experience, she, too, was initially hesitant to adjust her Beacon settings. “After I became more comfortable and understood it, I knew what I was doing. I want to help others develop that comfort level quickly, and Kevin and I are committed to providing ongoing support. We’re making sure everyone has not only our emails but also our cell phone numbers so they can reach out, whether it’s two months or two years from now.”

Creating lasting relationships that serve students

Circumstances affecting student safety are ever-changing. Different challenges arise daily that affect how learners see themselves and what they deal with in class. Just as teachers need to be vigilant in the classroom, admins and counselors should and can do the same with help from Beacon.

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If you’re ready to explore how GoGuardian Beacon can be customized to support your school’s unique needs and create a safer, more supportive learning environment, connect with our team today and schedule a demo — we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.