SCDE, FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office Unite School Safety Leaders for Statewide Symposium
Hundreds of educators, law enforcement officers, and school safety professionals are gathering today for the first statewide School Safety and Security Symposium, a training event focused on threat assessment, prevention, and school safety. State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, FBI Columbia Field Office Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla, and U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling are joining participants to highlight the collaboration and coordination required to keep South Carolina schools safe.
The day-long symposium is being held at the Lexington Two Performing Arts Center in West Columbia.
Why It Matters:
The issues being explored at today's symposium focus on one of the most critical aspects of school safety, helping educators and law enforcement professionals identify, assess, and manage potential threats before they escalate into acts of violence. Through threat assessment, information sharing, and coordinated intervention, professionals across education and law enforcement can better understand risk, make informed decisions, and help prevent tragedy. Led by recognized experts and experienced practitioners from the federal, state, and local levels, today's sessions examine how threats emerge, how risks are evaluated, and how schools and law enforcement agencies can work together to intervene before violence occurs.
What They’re Saying:
"South Carolina has made significant investments in school safety. The Department created an Office of Safe Schools and strengthened security through technology, training, school mapping, and other improvements across our state. Those efforts matter, but no program, tool, or piece of equipment can replace the relationships, trust, professional judgment, and experience that law enforcement brings to the mission of keeping students safe. Every conversation, every lesson shared, and every partnership strengthened here today enhances our collective ability to recognize risk, intervene early, and keep South Carolina schools safe." – State Superintendent Ellen Weaver
“We all share the sacred duty of protecting our children against threats they may face in and outside the classroom. This Symposium brings together multiple experts so we can share the most up‑to‑date information about trends, threats, and strategies with those professionals who work with children every day and are entrusted with keeping them safe.” – Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla
“Students face new threats and dangers every day, from sextortion to nihilistic violence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with schools and law enforcement to prosecute these crimes to protect our children." – U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina.
Go Deeper:
Some of the key topics that will addressed today include:
- The Evolution of Threat Assessment and Threat Management
- Threat Evaluation and Reporting Overview (TERO)
- Preventing Targeted Violence in K-12 Schools
- Nihilistic Violent Extremism and Emerging Threat Trends
- Child Exploitation in South Carolina
- Active Attack Response Considerations for Educators
In addition to representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice, law enforcement and security professionals from the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division delivered presentations throughout the symposium.
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