Nisi Bennett, All Heart Initiative
Staff Development and Training

As a Mental Health First Aid instructor, Nisi Bennett has participated in training initiatives throughout Texas. Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent who is in crisis or experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge.

The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a five-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

The emphasis on "building a safety-net for people to get help" extends influence beyond isolated safety protocols to creating interconnected support systems within educational settings. This approach recognizes that effective security in schools requires both immediate intervention capabilities and long-term support structures

Willie Wilkins, Mesquite ISD
Staff Development and Training

Mesquite ISD Safety and Security Coordinator Willie Wilkin’s hands-on, evidence-based approach to staff development and training is significantly enhancing the district's overall safety preparedness. In May 2024, Willie led a five-hour emergency management training for all district principals, assistant principals, and school resource officers, emphasizing active threat response and incorporating tabletop exercises. Willie has continued this initiative during the 2024-2025 school year, conducting additional tabletop exercises with each campus emergency response team (CERT) to ensure preparedness for emergencies.

Willie employs interactive methods using large campus floor plans and colored pawns representing different roles to simulate scenarios based on actual incidents. This approach helps staff create campus-specific safety plans and prepares them to respond more quickly and effectively to threats and hazards, from a tornado or hazmat spill to an active threat. Based on requests from principals, Willie also adapted this training to accommodate an entire campus staff of 75 – 100.

Through his dedication and use of recognized tools such as table-top exercises, Willie is equipping school leaders with the training, knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to increase Mesquite ISD’s preparedness efforts.

Michael Lemish, Argyle ISD
Staff Development and Training

Safety and Security Coordinator, Michael Lemish, has been instrumental in implementing comprehensive safety and security awareness training programs for Argyle ISD staff. He has gone above and beyond the standard requirements by designing and delivering training sessions that address critical areas such as armed staff tactical response, emergency medical response, access control, and intruder assessments.

Mr. Lemish was instrumental in the creation and development of the Armed Staff Program in Argyle ISD in 2014. Since its creation, he has brought innovative ideas, meticulous organization, and extensive training requirements to the program. He developed a rigorous training curriculum that ensures armed staff members are prepared to handle potential threats while prioritizing the safety of students and staff.

Mr. Lemish also plays a key role in the development and implementation of the district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan. He collaborates with school administrators, law enforcement agencies, and community stakeholders to create a comprehensive plan that outlines clear procedures for responding to emergencies and safeguarding the school community

Through his unwavering commitment to staff development and training and his exceptional leadership skills, Michael Lemish exemplifies the qualities of a dedicated and visionary safety and security professional.

Blinn College District Police Department CAST Team
Staff Development and Training

The Blinn College District Police Department - Civilian Active Shooter Training (CAST) Team is a team of professional instructors who have dedicated themselves to becoming experts in campus safety. Each member holds ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training) Level 2 Instructor Certifications. The CAST Team expanded their initial offering of basic ALERRT Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training to include training in dynamic active shooter events, tourniquets, situational awareness, leadership, and safety awareness at New Student Orientation.

The CAST Team developed a dynamic scenario-based training that considers the college atmosphere. In this training, team members not only teach Avoid, Deny, Defend from ALERRT but also allow participants to physically move and barricade themselves in a classroom. The trainings address what happens to the body under high stress, how to combat the effects of stress, effective communication, and the importance of teamwork. Lastly, instructors inform participants how to report concerning behaviors to help keep the school community safe. The CAST Team has provided training to more than 600 faculty, staff, and students throughout the district's five campuses.

David Wilson and the High Five for Safety Program, Celina ISD
Staff Development and Training

In an effort to remind students and staff to ensure that doors are always secured properly, Celina ISD hosted a poster contest at the elementary level. Celina ISD Coordinator of Administrative Services, David Wilson, then took the winning poster, High Five for Safety, and collaborated with the high school student audiovisual group to produce a safety video to go with the poster. The posters are placed on every exterior campus door in the district, and the video has been used to start training students and staff to always check doors when passing them.

The program teaches students from pre-K that safety is everyone's responsibility. The program encourages students to give the doors a push randomly as they pass one. If a student finds a door that is not secure, they are to immediately tell an adult. The hope is with more people checking the mechanism, the less likely a failed mechanism will be missed for any length of time. The goal is that by building this culture into the young students, it will be automatic by the time they are in the higher grades.

Dr. Tamy Smalskas, Carroll ISD
Staff Development and Training

When Dr. Tamy Smalskas joined Carroll ISD as Executive Director of Policy and Student Services in May of 2022, she put a new, microscopic eye on the safety and security of the district. From physical safety to emotional safety, she swiftly implemented processes, policies, and procedures to protect students and staff.

She delivered a robust professional development series for all campus and district leadership that addressed injury and incident reporting; David's Law reporting with an anonymous app; bullying, harassment, and discrimination; documentation; the Standard Response Protocol; CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event); and access control.

She also created toolkits for principals to use on campus to train teachers, staff, and students. She has reached out to parents through PTO meetings and other community members through video updates. Bus drivers and operations staff are also trained.

She is committed to research-based best practices and works closely with local law enforcement and SROs to align training and protocols. She has had a significant impact on safety and security in Carroll ISD.

Starla Martin and Dr. Thomas Maglisceau, Celina ISD
Staff Development and Training

Starla Martin, Coordinator of Testing and Student Services, and Dr. Thomas Maglisceau, Celina ISD Superintendent, planned and executed a reunification drill involving staff from three school districts, local law enforcement from four agencies, fire department and emergency medical services personnel, students, and parents.

They saw the need to run multi-agency and district drills to prepare Celina ISD, as well as other districts and agencies in the area, to handle large scale emergencies before they occur. Involving students, staff, and community partners in the drill, allows all participants to understand, cooperate with, and fully implement a reunification of students with parents and guardians if it is ever necessary at a district level. The reunification drill makes all elements of the community and district partners more prepared for an actual reunification event.