California recently revised state legislation regarding comprehensive school safety plans, some of which pertains to schools’ responses to threats. As leaders consider how to meet the required mandates for school safety planning, evidence-based best practices on behavioral threat assessment can provide insights into how schools can protect students and school personnel while also supporting mental health and well-being.

Join experts from the California Department of Education and WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center to learn about the recent changes to state legislation, as well as practical, evidence-based components of behavioral threat assessment.

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• Padlet

Presenters:

Tom Herman is an Education Administrator with the School Health and Safety Office in the Whole Child Division at the California Department of Education. He oversees state and federal programs related to health and safety, crisis response, school climate, restorative practices, harassment and bullying, and alcohol and other drugs (ATOD) prevention. Dr. Herman also oversees areas of comprehensive sexual health and reproduction, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), and the California Healthy Kids Survey. Also, the LGBTQ+ State-Wide Advisory Task Force is in the School Health and Safety Office. A former Principal and Vice Principal, Dr. Herman is committed to student academic success and the physical and emotional wellbeing of all students.

Curtis Herring is a School Safety Technical Assistance Specialist with the WestEd Justice and Prevention Research Center. He supports local, regional, and state education agencies in their implementation of evidence-based violence prevention strategies. His work has included several notable projects, such as the development of a campus mindfulness room, the introduction of processes and procedures related to Behavioral Threat Assessment, the development of a campus-based mentorship program, and the institution of school counseling data collection and analysis methods.