Robert Susi
Director of the Maine School Safety Center
Robert is a retired 33 year municipal police officer, having served 27 years as a School Resource Officer. Robert has been involved in and helped create safety plans for several school districts and continues to strive to bring safety and security to every school in Maine.
Jeffrey Upton
Assistant Director of the Maine School Safety Center
Jeffrey worked as a police officer for 23 years in southern Maine, spending the majority of his career as a School Resource Officer. During his career, he participated in updating the emergency safety plans for his district and acted as a trainer in their critical incident response plan. Towards the end of his work in law enforcement, Jeffrey worked with a group of resource officers to start the Maine School Resource Officer’s Association and became a mentor to new SROs in the State.
James Babcock, Psy.D.
Threat Assessment and Mental Health Coordinator
James is a licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist with over 30 years of experience in public education. He has a longstanding commitment to violence prevention and has played a key role in behavioral threat assessment training and implementation across multiple school districts in Maine. James holds a doctorate in School Psychology from the University of Southern Maine and a master's in education, along with a Certificate of Advanced Educational Specialization, from Boston College.
- Help enrolling in Threat Assessment training
- Help establishing your multi-disciplinary Threat Assessment team
Stacey Barlow, Ed.D.
Restorative Practices Coordinator
Stacey spent 17 years working in middle and high schools in alternative education programs. She has a master’s degree in Curriculum Design and Instruction and an Ed.D. in Restorative Justice in Education.
- Restorative Process in an educational setting
- Alternatives to suspension
- Integrating trauma-informed practices into school behavioral response
Cheryl Brackett, MBA
Transportation Coordinator
Cheryl has worked for over 32 years in a public school system. She has earned a master’s in business administration from Thomas College. Cheryl works with local school systems to establish and maintain safety and training programs. Although safety for students and staff remains the number one objective, a focus is also made on, efficiency, environmental impact, and reliability.
You can contact Cheryl for:
- Information on School Bus Safety & Training
- School Bus Purchase Program
- Transportation Data & Reports
- Information on obtaining commercial driver's license.
Michelle Legare
School Safety and Security Coordinator
Michelle has 17 years of experience in law enforcement, including 5 years as a School Resource Officer in Maine’s 4th largest public school district. Michelle continues to serve two police departments as a Reserve Officer. She is a Field Training Officer, Certified A.L.I.C.E. Instructor, Maine School Safety Specialist, and active member of several teams, including Crisis Intervention, School Safety Team, Count ME In attendance team, BARR team member, PBIS Community Collaboration, and Threat Assessment. Michelle is also the Oxford Hills Middle School Softball Coach and a 2023 Mainer to be Thankful For, as recognized by the Portland Press Herald.
Dedicated to lifelong learning, Michelle collaborates with SROs and school safety leaders across Maine, focusing on training, supporting, and adapting to the evolving education landscape. She is experienced in cyber threats, emergency protocols, and building security, with a commitment to bridging gaps between schools and first responders. Michelle’s approach emphasizes restorative practices, ensuring a culture of care and safety where everyone matters.
You can contact Michelle for:
- Site Assessment
- School Resource officer training
Jack Peck, Jr.
School Emergency Management Coordinator
Jack retired as the Chief of Police for the Town of Farmington after a thirty-six year law enforcement career. He then took a position at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and was the Director, responsible for the training and certification of all law enforcement and correctional officers in the state of Maine until transitioning to the Maine School Safety Center.
While at the Academy he was part of the team that developed and implemented the original School Resource Officer certification program.
He is a former past president of the Maine Chief’s of Police Association and member of the Executive Board of the Maine Sheriff’s Association.
Jack has earned degrees from SMCC and Husson University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
- Planning for your school's Comprehensive Health and Safety and Emergency Management Plan
- Resources for Emergency Operations Plans
- Emergency Management training and education
- Emergency Exercises and Drills
Wendy Robichaud, Ed.D.
School Safety Training Coordinator
Wendy spent 24 years in education as a pre-primary instructor and a high school marketing instructor. She also spent 10 years teaching at the college level. Wendy has a doctoral degree in Instructional Technology and Distance Education. She helps the team design and deliver training, as well as managing the Maine Safe Schools Initiative program through Eastern Maine Community College.
- Enrollment in the School Safety Specialist Program
- Signing up for an upcoming training
Staci Warren, B.A.
Administrative Operations Manager
Staci joined the Maine DOE in June 2020. Prior to that, she worked for University of Maine at Augusta, as Assistant Director of University Advancement and Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations.
Staci holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies, with minors in Childhood Behavior & Psychology from the University of Maine System.
- Grant questions
- Contracts, amendments questions and updates
- Invoices, budgets, or general administrative questions