# The HERO Program’s Perspective on the Evolution of School Safety

By Adam Coughran · Published 2023-09-22 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Education Technology on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/hero-program-school-safety
Creator hub: Icom

> Experts argue that traditional safety drills fall short in preparing students for real-world threats, sparking debate over more effective communication strategi

## Key points

- Traditional school safety drills are insufficient for preparing students for real-world threats, prompting the need for child-friendly communication strategies.
- The HERO Program was created by Adam Coughran to fill a critical gap in age-appropriate safety education across different student age groups.
- Coughran's two decades in Southern California law enforcement — including active shooter response and domestic counterterrorism — directly informed the development of Safe Kids Inc.

Block Field

In recent years, with a significant uptick in school-related incidents, the conversation surrounding safety protocols within educational institutions has surged. Since Columbine, there have been [304 fatal school shootings](https://www.security.org/blog/a-timeline-of-school-shootings-since-columbine/). This trend demands a pivotal question: How are we equipping our students and educators to face these imminent threats, and is there a more effective way to communicate school safety procedures tailored for children?

> This trend demands a pivotal question: How are we equipping our students and educators to face these imminent threats, and is there a more effective way to communicate school safety procedures tailored for children?

On this episode of [*Icom*](https://marketscale.com/shows/icom/), host [Jon Paul Beauchamp](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-paul-beauchamp-929b171/) engages with [**Adam Coughran**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-coughran/), President of [**Safe Kids Inc.**](https://safekidsinc.com/) and the Hero Program. They delve deep into understanding the foundation of school safety, focusing on Adam’s vast experience in law enforcement and the creation of a child-friendly protocol to navigate threatening situations.

During their insightful conversation, the following topics were highlighted:

- Adam’s Transition from Law Enforcement to active shooter response
- Genesis of Safe Kids Inc. and the birth of the HERO program was aimed at filling this critical gap.
- The HERO Program Explained: A brief overview of what HERO stands for in various age groups

With two decades in law enforcement in Southern California, **Adam Coughran** has worked on everything from active shooter response teams to domestic counterterrorism, policy procedures, and safety training. His unique experience in ensuring safety in high tourism areas coupled with his passion for teaching, led him to address a glaring gap in the current educational system: appropriate safety education for kids.

> His unique experience in ensuring safety in high tourism areas coupled with his passion for teaching, led him to address a glaring gap in the current educational system: appropriate safety education for kids.

Listen to Radios in Action on [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radios-in-action/id1699227972) and [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5T0b31f3O1GZ0lYxKSxMmF).

Tags: counterterrorism, HERO program, law enforcement, public safety, School Safety

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