Keeping Schools Safe and Secure… the Wylie Way

By Ian Halperin

Each day 17,000 students, along with more than 2,000 employee and hundreds of parents and visitors, pass through Wylie ISD’s 20 campuses. Helping keep them safe is no small task, and Wylie ISD is committed to providing the safest possible environment. Heading up those efforts is the district’s new Director of Safety and Security Brian Kelly.

Kelly was hired in December and brings more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, including several years as a commander, to this newly created position. In addition to overseeing day-to-day safety and security operations, he works with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies on developing and implementing preventative security programs, life safety programs, emergency management, and other safety programs.

“Over the past few years Wylie ISD has been very proactive and implemented some strategic safety initiatives that have made our campuses safer,” said Kelly. “From here we will be focusing on centralizing safety and security functions and technology, bringing these things together to improve safety for our kids. It’s all about evolving and improving.”

Several new laws have been passed that require schools to be more proactive in the way they address everything from drills to threat assessment. Kelly is working with several district departments on these programs to ensure the district is compliant.

Kelly has spent his first few weeks visiting schools, meeting with staff and getting to know the district. He has also met with School Resource Officers (SROs), police chiefs and city managers. He believes relationships are a crucial component of safety. To that end, he looks forward to meeting parents and students for their feedback. “Technology plays an important role in safety, but relationships are the key. Teachers and principals know the atmosphere of the school. Being in touch with their campus ... the pulse … is the basis for a secure environment,” says Kelly.

Brian Kelly is WISD's new Director of Safety. Photo by Ian Halperin

Kelly has also been reaching out to the PTAs. When parents ask about what they can do to help keep kids safe, the same answer applies.

“Be involved. Talk to and listen to your children. If they share something that concerns you, please notify us. It can be a teacher, counselor, administrator or if needed, the police,” he added.

Leaving “the beat” at SMU for Wylie ISD presented some new opportunities for Kelly. But he says the goals are similar: protect life and property. He focuses on policy and planning, leaving the criminal investigations to the police.

Before joining Wylie ISD, Kelly spent 20 years in the Irving Police Department serving in several roles, including SRO. In 2009 he joined the Southern Methodist University police department, serving as commander over homeland security, crime prevention and training. He was also a tactical team commander, coordinating security for large events and visiting dignitaries. He was named the 2013 SMU Employee of the Year for his efforts to reduce student offenses campuswide.

Kelly holds his Master Peace Officers License, numerous Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) certifications and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. To learn more about Wylie ISD’s safety and security efforts, visit: www.wylieisd.net/safety. •