Natasha Sansoni
Master of Organizational Leadership, 2003
Teen violence is a burning societal issue. Following the Columbine tragedy when two boys shot 12 high school students and a teacher to death and then killed themselves; The Columbine Commission recommended creating an organization that allows anonymous reporting to prevent similar crimes.
Safe2TellTM, a non-profit organization that provides a safe place for teens and others to report the beginning signs of violence, was founded in 2004. As the Communications Manager for Safe2TellTM, Natasha trains parents and teachers on safety topics, such as bullying, suicide prevention, underage drinking and drug use. She also focuses on the outcome of each tip that comes through Safe2TellTM, keeping in close contact with law enforcement and school officials.
Recalling a tip that saved the life of a suicidal high school girl, Natasha wonders, “What if her friend hadn’t made the call? Many times students don’t feel comfortable talking to to their teachers, but because of the anonymity aspect of our program, they will call us.”
Natasha credits her master’s degree program from University of Phoenix for giving her the tools to take on the responsibilities of her demanding and rewarding position. “The program taught me that good leaders aren’t the ones with the largest voices, but the ones with the largest ears.”
