Janie Anderson: From Part-Time Position to Districtwide School Safety Leader

Editor’s Note: Our Member Spotlight series highlights members of the National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD) and the important work they do to support safe and secure schools.

With more than 30 years in law enforcement and six years in school safety leadership, Janie Anderson has dedicated her career to helping people prepare for emergencies. As Security Director for Manitou Springs School District 14, she's applying that experience to strengthen emergency preparedness, build partnerships, and continually improve school safety.

From Law Enforcement to School Safety

After retiring from a 30-year career with the Colorado Springs Police Department, Anderson wasn't planning to jump into another full-time role. But when Manitou Springs School District 14 began looking for a retired law enforcement professional to lead its school safety efforts, it felt like a natural fit.

Having lived in the community for years and watched both of her children attend the district from kindergarten through graduation, she understood the schools and the people they served. What was initially expected to be a 10-20 hour-per-week position quickly grew into a full-time responsibility as she discovered there were no district or school-specific emergency operations plans in place.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anderson used the opportunity to develop comprehensive emergency operations plans for the district and each school while connecting with experienced school safety leaders across Colorado. She also immersed herself in conferences, training programs, and professional development to learn school safety best practices. Since then, she has helped build a comprehensive school safety program by strengthening emergency planning, modernizing security infrastructure, standardizing threat and suicide assessment practices, and expanding partnerships with first responders and the broader school safety community.

"I know we live in a tiny town, but the mindset will always be that we must be prepared to handle any emergency situation to keep kids and staff safe."

Building a Safer District

Looking back on the past six years, Anderson is most proud of how far the district has come in building a comprehensive school safety program. Some of the initiatives she considers the most impactful include:

• Developing the district's first emergency operations plans
• Modernizing campus security through new camera systems, secure vestibules, upgraded access control, and Informacast emergency notifications
• Improving radio interoperability between schools and law enforcement
• Strengthening Standard Response Protocol (SRP) drills through ongoing training and education
• Establishing Armed Security Officers at each school
• Standardizing threat and suicide assessment practices across the district

Current Priorities

Although the district has made significant progress, Anderson says there is still more work to do. Current priorities include implementing Red Bags, improving perimeter security around campuses that border hiking trails and open space, expanding STOP THE BLEED® resources, and replacing aging radio equipment.

Funding remains one of Anderson's biggest challenges, but she's successfully secured School Safety Disbursement Grants, SAFER Grants, Threat Assessment Grants, BEST Grants, community donations, and voter-approved bond funding to continue moving projects forward.

"I'll continue to seek out funding to improve the safety at our schools."

Advice for Fellow School Safety Leaders

Throughout her career, Anderson has learned that one of the most valuable resources a school safety leader can have is a strong professional network. She encourages others to lean on their professional networks, remain open to new ideas, and never stop learning.

She also credits Colorado's local and statewide school security director groups, NCSSD, and the I Love U Guys Foundation as invaluable resources that have helped her grow professionally.

"Don't be afraid to ask for guidance or help from others in school safety. Be open and willing to try new things. Always debrief incidents, procedures, and plans. It's okay to admit mistakes—but learn from them."

Why She Joined NCSSD

Anderson joined NCSSD after receiving a scholarship to complete the Foundations of School Security Leadership (FoSSL) Certificate Course. She says connecting with other practitioners who openly share ideas, resources, and real-world experiences has become one of the most valuable aspects of membership.

"I have found this group very helpful because we are all here on the same mission, and it is wonderful to have so many resources available."

Beyond the Job

Before joining Manitou Springs School District 14, Anderson spent 30 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department, serving in patrol, investigations, training, community relations, and public information before retiring as Director of the department's Training Academy.

A lifelong athlete, she earned a bachelor's degree in Human Services from Elmira College, where she became just the second woman in school history to score 1,000 career basketball points. After retiring from law enforcement, Anderson spent six months driving for Uber and working as a lifeguard before beginning the next chapter of her career in school safety.

Outside of work, Anderson enjoys hiking, biking, watching and playing sports, spending time with her dogs, and the occasional trip to the casino. Public service runs in the family—her son works in law enforcement, while her daughter is a teacher and coach.

Continue Exploring School Safety Leadership

Interested in learning how other school safety leaders are addressing today's challenges? Browse our growing collection of Member Spotlights to meet practitioners from districts across the country and discover the ideas, strategies, and lessons they've learned along the way.

If you're a school safety leader looking to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and participate in future Member Spotlights, consider joining the National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD)—a professional community dedicated to advancing school safety leadership nationwide.