With a passion for risk management and a commitment to supporting others, Jennifer M. Rand, MEd, has become a leader in the field of education risk management. Currently working as a risk management specialist at Academy School District 20, Rand works to reduce the risk of more than 24,000 students and 4,500 staff members. Her career reflects a deep dedication to improving processes, helping others and making a real impact in her community.
A Journey of Persistence and Problem-Solving
Rand credits her success to her persistence and determination to overcome challenges. “My mom always said, ‘You’ve got to jump through the hoops. You just gotta do it,’” she explains. “That has stayed with me.” Despite facing dyslexia and other struggles, she never gave up.
Rand’s perseverance and ability to think outside the box helped her build a successful career in risk management. “I understand the box, but at the same time, there are things and possibilities outside of it that could help and make it better. That’s who I am,” she shares.
Embracing a Career in Risk Management
Rand’s passion for risk management started early in her career when she was working in law enforcement. She has worked in emergency management and risk management since 2016, focusing on creating safe environments for communities and schools. Currently, Rand works as a risk management specialist at Academy School District 20. She manages the day-to-day operations regarding insurance claims, ensuring documentation and legal compliance.
Rand’s role also involves supporting staff with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) interactive process and working to find ways to support them with accommodations. She finds satisfaction in working with people and helping them navigate the complexities of safety and risk in the workplace.
“I love working in risk management. It’s been a great career for me,” Rand says. “I also have a desire to help others who have struggled like me, feeling like they are not smart or good enough to achieve big things in their life.” Her goal has always been to support others and help them realize their potential, and that remains her driving force.
Innovating for Greater Efficiency
Rand’s most notable achievement in her current role has been creating an electronic database to better document safety data sheets and chemical hygiene plans, which are required for all schools. She worked with the local health and fire departments, district IT, principals, and department heads from each school to set up the database. This electronic chemical management database has streamlined the inspection process and provided more collaboration between school departments with documentation.
“The database made things more organized and reduced the inspection time from four hours to two with one of the schools testing this pilot program,” she says. This pilot program, implemented in 2024, will be expanded to all 43 sites in the district next school year. The expansion highlights Rand’s ability to develop impactful, sustainable solutions.
Rand’s work has led to significant improvement in overall safety and communication, two areas she believes are critical in risk management. “In any critical incident trying to reduce risk, one of the biggest reasons for failure is a lack of communication,” she explains. Rand insists that if people aren’t talking to each other or telling each other what’s happening, “there’s already a failure.”
A Vision for the Future in Education
Rand’s career continues to evolve, with plans to transition into the career and technical education (CTE) field. She is licensed as a CTE Teacher in Law Enforcement Services. In five to ten years, she hopes to develop a law enforcement training program for 9-12 grade and one day become an administrator over a district’s CTE program: “I would like the opportunity to teach and encourage others to believe in themselves.”
Rand is committed to helping students realize their potential by exploring career pathways beyond traditional college.
