Dean Smith

Background

About Dean Smith

I bring over 25 years of experience in law enforcement and security risk management, with a focus on school safety, behavioral threat assessment, investigations, crisis response, and workplace violence prevention. I’ve had the privilege of serving in both public safety and education, building a well-rounded foundation in physical security, training and development, and cross-agency collaboration. Currently, I serve as School Safety Administrator for Jefferson County Public Schools, the largest district in Kentucky and one of the top 30 in the U.S. In this role, I lead district-wide strategies to protect students, staff, and visitors—applying a blend of operational leadership, emergency planning, and security design principles to manage safety across our schools and facilities. Prior to JCPS, I spent over 12 years at the Oldham County Sheriff’s Office, where I supervised numerous administrative and operational functions. These included serving as Training Director, overseeing the Evidence Department, and managing the agency’s Information Technology systems. I also led the agency’s accreditation process through the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police, positioning it among the top law enforcement agencies in the state. My academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Security & Loss Prevention (Eastern Kentucky University, College of Law Enforcement) and a Master of Arts in Teaching (Bellarmine University), which support my deep involvement in education, instructional design, and school-focused threat prevention. I also hold certifications in security management and emergency operations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and I have completed specialized training in K–12 behavioral threat assessment and intervention. I’m proud to collaborate with over 20 local and state agencies to ensure rapid, coordinated responses to any threat impacting our school communities.