The PETs Pod

9-1-1 Public Educators of Texas

Welcome to PETS Pod, the official podcast of the 9-1-1 Public Educators of Texas! Whether you're a seasoned 9-1-1 public educator, just starting your program, or simply passionate about public safety, you've found your people. Join us for real conversations with public educators from across Texas and beyond as we share ideas, success stories, lessons learned, and the occasional "well...that didn't go as planned" moment. From building a public education program from the ground up to teaching kids about 9-1-1, navigating community events, creating engaging campaigns, and everything in between, we'll cover the topics that matter most to those educating the public every day. Grab a cup of coffee, put on your headset, and join us as we talk shop, share laughs, and help make public education stronger—one conversation at a time.

Episodes

  1. Oct 1

    Okay… But Who’s Paying for This?

    Funding & Budgeting Your 9-1-1 Public Education ProgramYou’ve got the ideas. You’ve got the events. You’ve got a cart full of giveaways, banners, coloring books, and things you’re absolutely convinced you need. Now… who’s paying for all of it? In this episode of the PETS Pod, we’re sitting down for a roundtable conversation about the less glamorous—but very real—side of 9-1-1 public education: funding and budgeting. We talk about what public education programs actually cost, how to decide what’s worth spending money on, stretching a small budget, finding creative funding opportunities, working with community partners, and making the case for your program when budget season rolls around. And if your current public education budget is approximately $0 and a dream, this episode is for you too. We also get into giveaways and promotional items, what’s actually worth buying, what tends to sit in a closet forever, tracking your program’s impact, and why having the biggest budget doesn’t necessarily mean having the best public education program. Whether you’re building a program from scratch, trying to grow what you already have, or just trying to figure out how to make your money go a little further, come join the conversation. 🎙️ In this episode: Building a realistic public education budgetWhat to prioritize when money is limitedRunning a program with little or no dedicated fundingGrants, partnerships, sponsorships, and other funding ideasMaking smarter promotional-item purchasesTracking what you spend—and what actually worksShowing the value of public educationJustifying next year’s budgetLessons learned from things we probably wouldn’t buy againHave a creative funding idea or something that has worked for your program? We want to hear about it! Learn more about PETS: https://www.911publiceducatorsoftexas.com/ Follow 9-1-1 Public Educators of Texas on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/911PublicEducatorsofTexas Listen to more episodes of the PETS Pod: https://www.911publiceducatorsoftexas.com/podcast

  2. Jun 29

    Meet the PETs Pod!

    Welcome to Episode 0 of the PETS Pod! Before we dive into interviews, stories, and all things 9-1-1 public education, we wanted to take a few minutes to introduce ourselves and share what the PETS Pod is all about. The PETS Pod is the official podcast of the 911 Public Educators of Texas (PETS), created by public educators, for public educators. Our goal is to connect professionals across Texas and beyond by sharing ideas, best practices, lessons learned, and the occasional "we've all been there" moment. Whether you're building a public education program from the ground up, looking for fresh ideas for your next community event, or simply want to hear how others are making a difference in their communities, this podcast is for you. Each episode will feature conversations with public educators, dispatch professionals, industry partners, and subject matter experts covering everything from school presentations and community outreach to funding, partnerships, special events, public safety campaigns, and the future of 9-1-1 public education. We'll also bring you roundtable discussions, listener Q&A episodes, mini-series, and plenty of practical tips you can take back to your own agency. So grab your coffee, settle in, and join the conversation. We're excited you're here and can't wait to learn alongside you. Want to learn more about PETS or become a member? Visit us at https://www.911publiceducatorsoftexas.com/. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for updates, resources, and upcoming events: https://www.facebook.com/911PublicEducatorsofTexas. Thanks for listening, and welcome to the PETS Pod!

    Meet the PETs Pod!

About

Welcome to PETS Pod, the official podcast of the 9-1-1 Public Educators of Texas! Whether you're a seasoned 9-1-1 public educator, just starting your program, or simply passionate about public safety, you've found your people. Join us for real conversations with public educators from across Texas and beyond as we share ideas, success stories, lessons learned, and the occasional "well...that didn't go as planned" moment. From building a public education program from the ground up to teaching kids about 9-1-1, navigating community events, creating engaging campaigns, and everything in between, we'll cover the topics that matter most to those educating the public every day. Grab a cup of coffee, put on your headset, and join us as we talk shop, share laughs, and help make public education stronger—one conversation at a time.