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Director of School Counseling Weslaco High School (WHS), Jessica Gomez M. Ed., Leader of T.A.T.
Important information for Teachers and Staff about the Threat Assessment Team.
Threat Assessment has always been of interest to me in my professional career because the safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance in order to maintain a healthy school environment.

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A threat assessment is the identification of individuals causing concern, while gathering information and data to assess people and threats that are made. Unfortunately mass shootings are becoming more common in our communities. The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) requires the district to have a school safety and security committee to handle situations such as these. A committee will be created at each school in order to, develop and implement emergency plans, Provide our district with any campus, facility, or support services information that is required with a safety and security audit and a safety report, and collaborate with local law enforcement agencies. (Weslaco Independent School District, 2019)

https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/644?filename=CK(LEGAL).html&title=SAFETY%20PROGRAM/RISK%20MANAGEMENT&subtitle=

Long, M. (n.d.). SAFETY PROGRAM/RISK MANAGEMENT. Retrieved from https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/644?filename=CK(LEGAL).html&title=SAFETY PROGRAM/RISK MANAGEMENT&subtitle=

An emerging issue here at WHS is the size of our school and the number of students. Keeping all 2,500 students safe during a threatening situation is a challenge, and steps have already been taken to ensure everyone's safety. First, our school has practiced a mock school shooting where everyone is locked in their rooms while authorities clear the halls of any threatening behavior. Secondly, WHS is completely closed school, any outside visitors must check in with security at the door in order to gain access to the front office. An official WHS safety sticker is strategically placed in each classroom, in case of an emergency the students gather at that spot until the building is clear of danger.

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The Association of Threat Assessment Professionals or the ATAP is based out of California and is a non-profit organization. The goal of this organization is to, "To afford its members a professional and educational environment to exchange ideas and strategies to address such issues as stalking, threats, and homeland security. The primary focus of this organization is to provide the necessary knowledge, tools, and support to better prepare our membership to handle these types of situations". https://www.atapworldwide.org/page/aboutus
What is ATAP? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.atapworldwide.org/page/aboutus

This organization specializes in acts of terrorism, stalking of public figures and domestic partners, school violence and workplace violence. It is important because the ATAP provides training, seminars, and take home strategies on Threat Assessment that can help keep our school district safe from inside and outside threats.
The Threat Assessment Team has become a necessity in today's school environments.
https://www.atapworldwide.org/

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https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/09/04/what-schools-need-to-know-about-threat.html

Sawchuk, S. (2019, September 4). What Schools Need to Know About Threat Assessment Techniques. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/09/04/what-schools-need-to-know-about-threat.html

-The article establishes what a Threat Assessment is. The team sets out to determine whether any threat that is made will actually lead to violence.
-Threat Assessment is becoming more common here in the United States.
-According to the article, "42 percent of districts reported using threat assessment in 2015-16. But a majority of them said their threat-assessment teams met “on occasion” rather than once a month or more frequently, raising questions about implementation."

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https://www.educationdive.com/news/more-school-districts-creating-threat-assessment-teams/557757/

Harper, A. (2019, June 28). More school districts creating threat assessment teams. Retrieved from https://www.educationdive.com/news/more-school-districts-creating-threat-assessment-teams/557757/

-Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland has enacted the formation of threat assessments teams throughout their school district.
-Texas is one state that requires all of their school districts to create Threat Assessment Teams, "to use available measures to identify possible threats and head off trouble before it reaches the crisis stage."
-The National Association of School Psychologists agree that the Threat Assessment Teams are absolutely necessary in today's world. The belief is that these teams will help prevent school violence.

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Threat Assessment Team (State Law, Education Code 37.115A, LEGAL), “The board shall establish a threat assessment and safe and supportive school team to serve at each campus of the district and shall adopt policies and procedures for the teams.” The team is responsible for the creation and implementation (in compliance with TEA) of safe and supportive school programs. https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/644?filename=FFB(LEGAL).html&title=STUDENT%20WELFARE&subtitle=CRISIS%20INTERVENTION

Long, M. (n.d.). STUDENT WELFARE: CRISIS INTERVENTION. Retrieved from https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/644?filename=FFB(LEGAL).html&title=STUDENT WELFARE&subtitle=CRISIS INTERVENTION

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Slide 9: Threat Assessment Team must under, Education Code 37.115(h)–(j), State Law.

1. On determination that a student or other individual poses a serious risk of violence to self or others, a team shall immediately report the team's determination to the superintendent.

2. A team identifying a student at risk of suicide shall act in accordance with the district's suicide prevention program.

3. A team identifying a student using or possessing tobacco, drugs, or alcohol shall act in accordance with district policies and procedures related to substance use prevention and intervention.

Long, M. (n.d.). Student Welfare: Crisis Intervention. Retrieved from https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/644?filename=FFB(LEGAL).html&title=STUDENT WELFARE&subtitle=CRISIS INTERVENTION

https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/644?filename=FFB(LEGAL).html&title=STUDENT%20WELFARE&subtitle=CRISIS%20INTERVENTION

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Slide 10: Local Weslaco ISD Policy requires that the Superintendent of Schools, “ensure that a multidisciplinary threat assessment and safe and supportive team is established to serve each campus. The Superintendent shall appoint team members. The team shall be responsible for developing and implementing a safe and supportive school program at each campus served by the team and shall support the District in implementing its multi-hazard emergency operations plan.” Above all else the Superintendent is the person that is in charge of each threat assessment team throughout the district. The Superintendent can also add policies and procedures as needed and also make sure that T.A.T leaders complete training as needed.

Long, M. (n.d.). Student Welfare: Crisis Intervention . Retrieved from https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/644?filename=FFB(LOCAL).html&title=STUDENT WELFARE&subtitle=CRISIS INTERVENTION

https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/644?filename=FFB(LOCAL).html&title=STUDENT%20WELFARE&subtitle=CRISIS%20INTERVENTION

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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99), “Is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records.” The Threat Assessment Team needs to follow the FERPA law so as not to break any laws concerning student records. Student records must be respected and remain confidential.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). (2018, March 1). Retrieved from https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

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Senate Bill 11 (SB-11) passed by Texas Legislature in 2019, “Requires public schools to conduct behavioral threat assessment and collect relevant data on its efficacy. TEA, in conjunction with Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC), will be providing support and guidance to help public schools implement behavioral threat assessment beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.” https://www.senate.gov/legislative/bills_acts_laws.htm

Bills, Acts, & Laws. (2019, June 6). Retrieved from https://www.senate.gov/legislative/bills_acts_laws.htm

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American School Counselor Association.(2016) ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf
Ethical Standards for School Counselors section A.1 discusses the importance of student development. Providing counseling, concern for students academic career and social/emotional needs, and providing effective, responsive interventions to address student needs are just a few. As the leader of the T.A.T. ensuring that our students receive the proper counseling and interventions are important because it could steer the individual away from making a bad decision at school.  We will ensure that our counselors are always available to meet with students to discuss anything of concern.

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The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective

https://www.amazon.com/School-Shooter-Assessment-Perspective-Academy/dp/1494456230

OToole, M. E. (2000). The school shooter: A threat assessment perspective. Quantico, VA: FBI Academy.

The author, Mary Ellen O'Toole, is a PhD. and a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigations.  She argues that, "The roots of a violent act are multiple, intricate, and intertwined. The mix of factors varies according to the individual and the circumstances." This book is a good resource when coming up with training's for faculty and staff in the event of a school shooting. The model presented in the book fits well for a school setting and could help in the prevention of a school disaster.

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Best Practices for Compliance

Connecting with students in order to establish trusting relationships.

To prevent school violence (It is possible).

Enhance school climate in order to guarantee school safety not only for students but school employees.

Hold meetings for employees so they are kept up to date with current information.

To help people/students who may pose a threat to overcome issues.

Successfully identify mistake makers, malicious insiders and imposters.

Ultimately, to prevent any disruptions to the students educational atmosphere.