Leaders from the Monroe County School District recently met with local stakeholders for a training session led by the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center. The training was aimed at enhancing safety in schools and the community.
The training offered research-based strategies to prevent targeted violence through behavioral threat assessment and interagency collaboration.
The event was coordinated by Daliana Goins, MCSD’s threat management and harm prevention coordinator, following her attendance at Florida’s National Summit on School Safety alongside Alfredo Vazquez, director of safety and security, and Theresa Axford, outgoing superintendent.
Tony Montalto, president of Stand with Parkland, shared the story of his daughter, Gina Rose — one of the 17 lives lost in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. His remarks highlighted the devastating consequences of missed intervention opportunities, and emphasized the importance of systemic safety reforms, including the passage of Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act and the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
While school district administrators have undergone threat assessment training, this session offered the perspective of the U.S. Secret Service into behavioral patterns and warning signs often present before acts of violence occur. By revisiting real-world cases, participants strengthened their capacity to assess threats and intervene proactively.
The training was conducted with 41 staff members from the school district and 22 representatives from local agencies, reinforcing Monroe County’s commitment to proactive safety planning and community-driven solutions.
