SENTRY Practitioner Advisory Board Spotlight: Lawrence “Larry” Filippelli
Lawrence “Larry” Filippelli is the latest addition to SENTRY’s Practitioner Advisory Board (PAB), bringing decades of experience in education, safety, and administration to the role. His dedication to enhancing school security makes him a valuable and strategic partner for SENTRY. Read on to learn more about his impressive background in education administration and his committed efforts to create safer learning environments.
Larry’s family played a crucial role in his path to educational administration. His father was a school principal, and his mother and two sisters were classroom teachers, instilling a deep appreciation for the power of education within their family culture.
Continuing the family legacy, he began his career teaching before he switched to administration after the 1999 Columbine school shooting. This tragic event left a lasting mark on American history, sparking significant discussions about gun control, mental health awareness, and school safety measures. This spark lit a fire for Larry, inspiring a passion for school security that has continued into his current role as Superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools. He sits on the Rhode Island School Safety Committee and is widely considered an expert in school safety, security, and crisis response planning.
Throughout his career, Larry experienced firsthand various security threats, including managing a suspicious package incident and handling external threats to students and school facilities. These experiences influenced his views on crisis management, leading to a strong belief that threat preparedness and emergency response training should be integrated into the curriculum for aspiring educators. He puts this belief into practice as adjunct faculty at Providence College in the Educational Administration Graduate Program and the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Johnson & Wales University.
Larry envisions a world where schools can provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff, a sentiment closely aligned with SENTRY’s mission. He first joined forces with SENTRY in April 2022 as a panelist for the School Security Listening Session and has since participated in a Future of School Security Working Meeting, supported site visits at Lincoln High School and Middle School, and partnered with SENTRY Researcher, Professor Jimmie Oxley, to facilitate First Responder Training Workshops. As a new member of SENTRY’s PAB, Larry will continue to leverage his significant experience to provide insight into the security needs of school environments to inform SENTRY researchers and enhance our School Security Case Study research efforts.
Photo: Larry’s daughters with his vintage BMW.
When school is out of session, Larry is an ardent collector of vintage watches and delights in classic cars. He belongs to the BMW Car Club of America, Boston Chapter and the Porsche Club of America, Northeast Region, frequently helping to plan local events. He enjoys spending his free time with his family, which includes cheering on his 13-year-old daughter at her soccer games and supporting his 18-year-old daughter as she prepares to attend Providence College in the Fall.
