Technical Assistance

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Center for Safe Schools employs a diverse and well-qualified staff to respond to the more than 250 requests for technical assistance it receives each month. Center staff have backgrounds in law, social services and education. Staff conduct research, consult with national experts and receive training to remain current on issues related to school safety and violence prevention.

Center for Safe Schools Staff

Lynn Cromley, Director

Michelle Nutter, Safe and Supportive Schools Program Manager
Michelle Nutter received her Bachelor Degree in English Education from Messiah College. She taught at the pre-kindergarten and elementary levels for four years in private schools before joining the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General as a Civil Rights Investigator. During her 10 years with the Attorney General's office, she provided technical assistance to schools and communities across the Commonwealth as they dealt with intergroup tensions and demographic change.

Leah Galkowski, Coordinator
Leah Galkowski is a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor Degree in Administration of Justice with a minor in Spanish. She was previously employed by the Department of Public Welfare in the Office of Children Youth and Families as a program specialist. Prior to that Leah held several positions within the York County Children & Youth Agency. She was an intake investigator, Emergency Services Supervisor and supervisor of a satellite office.

Alfredo Gonzalez, Coordinator
Alfredo Gonzalez has worked as an elementary school counselor, residential administrator consultant at the Milton Hershey School, counseling supervisor with Alternative Rehabilitation Communities, MH/MR and crisis intervention case manager. He is currently the vice president of the Dauphin County MH/MR Advisory Board of Directors and has served on the Catholic Charities Board of Directors; Pennsylvania Protection & Advocacy Advisory Board of Directors; Youth Coalition Board of Directors; Mount Pleasant Hispanic American Board of Directors; and received the Distinguished Citizen Award for Outstanding and Meritorious Service to Humanity in 2007. Alfredo has worked in public, private and therapeutic educational environments to increase student engagement success and has worked to reduce and eliminate student dropouts and “failure.” He is a very proud Temple University graduate.

Mike Bookser, Emergency Planning and Response Management Coordinator
Mike Bookser holds his BA in the Administration of Criminal Justice from the University of Pittsburgh and received his Masters in Public Management from the H. John Heinz III College at Carnegie Mellon University. Mike spent 37 years as a police officer in Western Pennsylvania, the last 21 as Chief of Police. For the past 24 years he has taught Basic Recruit classes at the Allegheny County Police Training Academy. As a Master Instructor, Mike has taught Center for Safe Schools, Protecting Kids On-line program to students and adults for 10 years. Mike has been the Emergency Management Coordinator for his community for the past 20 years and is currently an Emergency Planning and Response Management Coordinator for Center for Safe Schools.

Don Smith, Emergency Planning and Response Management Coordinator
Don Smith holds his BA in Criminal Justice Administration from Alvernia College in Reading, Pennsylvania. He received his teaching certification after course work at the Pennsylvania State University. He received an M.Ed. from Temple University where he also completed his principal certification. Don spent 18 years as a police officer and active police trainer in Central Pennsylvania. Upon taking an early retirement from policing he began his education career. He has been a teacher, dean of students, assistant principal and district administrator responsible for child accounting and safety. He has worked with schools, districts and intermediate units delivering training programs, providing technical assistance and facilitating drills and exercises. Don remains active in emergency services as EMS chief in his community, medical team officer for the Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Team and serves as a volunteer for the Dauphin County Emergency Management Agency as emergency operations center staff member and trainer.

Stacie Molnar-Main, Strategic Initiatives Manager
Stacie Molnar-Main is a graduate of Denison University (BA) and Bucknell University (MSEd), and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership Division of the University of Pennsylvania - Graduate School of Education. Her professional experience spans preK-16 and includes work in urban, suburban and rural communities, where she has worked as a school psychologist, elementary counselor, middle school counselor and educational consultant. Stacie’s interest in school safety focuses on bullying prevention, school climate, community engagement and the role of leadership in school improvement efforts. A member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the National Association of School Psychologists, Stacie holds professional certification in K-12 school leadership and school psychology and has completed advanced training in chemical dependency counseling.