As we send children back to school, safety is top of mind for many. Local parent Michael Rush took his thoughts about security to the next level, using his experience to invent a practical device that protects children in classrooms. Wingshield acts as a functional whiteboard for daily use and an impenetrable doorblock in case of emergency.
“I was a federal agent for almost 27 years,” says Wingshield Executive Vice President and Founder Michael Rush. “I was an instructor at Quantico at one point, so I have a lot of practical background as well as investigative experience, and most importantly, I’m a dad of two young girls.”
A visit to his child’s classroom started the wheels turning in his tactical mind.
“I went to a parent-teacher night,” Rush shares. “As I was walking into the classroom, right by the door was an easel whiteboard, and it said, ‘Welcome, Parents!’”
Rush’s training, research and divine intervention led to the idea for Wingshield, a non-intrusive tool that can be useful daily and if necessary can be quickly and easily rolled into the doorway to provide a protective barrier. This low-profile, user-friendly technology can lower student and staff anxiety.
“God inspired me to create something that can be useful every day. Teachers and students can use Wingshield as a whiteboard,” he says. “School leadership obviously didn't want something that might be scary to the kids. We can add logos and school colors, so it naturally blends in with the environment. Although it weighs almost 600 pounds, an eight-year-old can easily put it into place,” he adds.
Wingshield has been in production for years; Rush has left no stone unturned for the safety of all students.
“It took about two years to develop and get it tested with the best labs in the world,” says Rush. “Wingshield complies with fire codes and with the American Disabilities Act. My main focus right now is special needs classrooms—we must figure out the best way to shelter them in place when we can't evacuate them. Wingshield keeps students safe—it turns a classroom into a safe room.”
Rush continues to explore and add safety solutions.
“I focus on a layered solution,” explains Rush. “A lot of safety plans focus on the perimeter: cameras, buzzer systems and detectors. Our most precious ones are in the classroom, so I decided to start there.”
Wingshield works in partnership with local security company Shiver Security.
“I started researching and vetting the best companies that I know locally, but also in the country,” he says. “Alison and Chip Shiver have the same passion that I have for security. We work together to answer the question, ‘What can we do to make it better?’”
“Shiver is excited to offer this layered security approach for our community,” says Alison Shiver, Regional Director of Sales for Shiver Security. “We all have children, so it really hits hard for all of us.”
“Our slogan is, ‘Protecting our future today.’ We're very passionate about it,” says Rush.
Visit the Wingshield website for details and for helpful links to federal grant applications and funding options. Wingshield.net,ShiverSecurity.com
“Wingshield keeps students safe—it turns a classroom into a safe room.” - Michael Rush, Wingshield Executive Vice President + Founder