A Life-Saving Layer of Support: How Gaggle Helped Hancock County Prioritize Mental Health

Hancock County School District, nestled along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, has weathered more than its fair share of storms—both literal and figurative.

From devastating hurricanes to the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Superintendent Rhett Ladner knew his community was grappling with more than just the physical aftermath.

Facing The Challenges

Even with safety measures in place, the district faced a difficult truth: the emotional toll of recent years—from natural disasters to the pandemic—wasn’t going away. “We were in a bad place,” Ladner explained. “We had to figure out how to support the mental health of our students and staff with fewer resources and more need than ever.”

Initially drawn to Gaggle Therapy, the district began exploring solutions. A site visit to another district using Gaggle’s ReachOut mental health support platform, however, opened Ladner’s eyes to what was possible. “We saw it in action, and we knew—we needed to implement ReachOut.”

That urgency became heartbreakingly real when a senior in the district died by suicide. “It lit a fire under us. We couldn’t wait.”

The Turning Point

The district was quick to launch Gaggle’s ReachOut platform. The rollout was fast and simple—shared through social media, integrated into ClassLink, and added to every student Chromebook.

Shortly thereafter, a fifth grader reached out through ReachOut to share that they were being sexually assaulted by a family member and had a plan to end their life. “If we didn’t have Gaggle in that moment, I don’t know what would have happened,” Ladner said. The district was able to intervene immediately and get that student the help they needed.

Even now, the impact is ongoing. “Just the other day, a ReachOut counselor emailed us about a fourth grader struggling with the loss of his mom. We were able to connect our behavior team and support him ahead of a tough Mother’s Day.”

Impacting Lives Every Day

The platform is now being used by staff as well. QR codes posted around the district make accessing mental health support simple and stigma-free. “It’s a statement to our community that we care.”

For staff, the responsiveness of the Gaggle counselors has been a revelation. “One of our ReachOut counselors was even able to help us file a CPS report. That used to fall entirely on our school teams—our principals and counselors. It’s a relief to have this layer of support.”

What Ladner appreciates most is how aligned Gaggle felt from the start. “You don’t always get that with vendors. But with Gaggle, there was heart. They saw what we needed, and they made it happen.”

Gaggle is now part of a broader culture of support that Hancock County is building. From initiatives like “ghost hunting” to spot unseen students, to giving out “Dancing Strawberry Awards” for staff who go above and beyond, the district is cultivating joy, visibility, and connection.

A Call to Action for School Districts

For districts weighing whether to invest in student safety and mental health tools, Ladner is direct: “We spend thousands of dollars on all kinds of things. Why wouldn’t you spend money on this? It’s the most economical safety net you can provide for your students, staff, and community.”

When asked to sum up Gaggle’s impact, Ladner didn’t hesitate: “It’s life-saving. It’s another layer of protection. And it shows we care.”

Learn more about how Gaggle can help transform student safety in your district at gaggle.net.

Other Case Studies

Red Clay Consolidated
School District

Red Clay Consolidated School District in Wilmington, Delaware, is the largest district in the state, serving approximately 16,000 students. After experiencing sub-par service from two other safety solution providers, district administrators reverted back to Gaggle Safety Management for Google.

Cajon Valley
Union School District

After rolling out a 1:1 Chromebook program across grades K-8, this California district needed to ensure that students would be protected online. Gaggle has helped the district save a student life every year since its implementation and enabled educators to intervene in cases of bullying and self-harm.

Cincinnati
Public Schools

This Ohio district has been using Gaggle for years, but the explosion of technology now makes the online student safety platform more critical than ever. When some grades moved to 1:1, Gaggle picked up on even more student situations, ensuring that administrators are making the right investment choice year after year.