In this episode of The Education Blueprint, Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk sits down with Chief of School Safety Carlo Granillo to talk about what it takes to keep students and staff safe every day. Chief Granillo shares how the district prepares for emergencies, trains staff, and works with law enforcement partners to ensure schools are secure and welcoming places to learn. They also discuss what “an abundance of caution” looks like in practice and why safety is a shared responsibility across the community.
- 00:00 Introduction to School Safety in Education
- 02:49 Meet the Chief: Carlo Granillo's Background
- 05:48 The Importance of School Safety
- 08:49 Rebranding Security to Safety
- 11:39 Training and Presence of School Safety Officers
- 14:43 Infrastructure and Safety Measures
- 17:58 Community Involvement in School Safety
- 20:45 The Role of Communication in Safety
- 23:41 Future of School Safety
- 26:36 Crisis Response and Preparedness
- 29:34 Building Trust and Confidence in Safety
- 32:36 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Dr. Jon Rysewyk brings nearly 30 years of educational experience to his role as Superintendent of Knox County Schools. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in education from the University of Tennessee, followed by a Doctorate of Education from East Tennessee State University. Dr. Rysewyk began his career as a science teacher at Bearden High School and later became principal of Fulton High School during its State of Tennessee reconstitution. He also served the district as Supervisor of Secondary Education, Executive Director of Innovation and School Improvement, Assistant Superintendent, and Chief Academic Officer prior to being appointed Superintendent in 2022.
Chief Carlo Granillo brings more than 30 years of law enforcement experience to his role as Knox County Schools Chief of School Safety, a position he began in March 2025. Before joining the district, he served as Chief of Police for the Fontana School Police Department in California, a district about half the size of Knox County Schools. He also spent over 20 years with the Fontana Police Department, where he served as a police officer, K9 officer, detective, and sergeant overseeing units in bike patrol, narcotics, canine, internal affairs, and hostage negotiation, before advancing to lieutenant. Earlier in his career, he worked for the City of Colton Police Department for eight years. Chief Granillo earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University.
Key Takeaways:
The foundation of school security at KCS includes:
Having a highly-trained, armed officer in every school;
Individualizing safety plans to meet the unique needs of each environment; and
A commitment to take every threat seriously and encourage every member of our community to say something if they see something.
Safety is not just about security measures—it’s about creating a welcoming, supportive environment where students can thrive.
Links & Resources:
Questions or show ideas? Email TheEducationBlueprint@knoxschools.org.
Learn more about Knox County Schools at KnoxSchools.org.
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