School Security Training - CIS World Services

Critical Intervention Services

The Critical Difference™

School Security Training

CIS consultants have trained thousands of administrators, faculty members, SROs, and security officers in critical school security topics.

Over the past decade, our consultants have trained hundreds of school administrators, faculty, and security personnel in security and emergency readiness topics. Following is a survey of the types of programs conducted by our school security experts.

Security Planning Workshops for School Leaders

Effective school security and emergency readiness begin with informed leadership. To address this matter, CIS developed the Integrated Security Planning for School Administrators (ISPSA) program in cooperation with John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The ISPSA program presents a comprehensive and integrated approach to school security and emergency readiness specifically designed to address the unique culture, challenges, and operational characteristics of diverse schools.

Since the program’s launch in 2013, hundreds of school leaders have been trained through the ISPSA program including public school officials in the NYC Tri-state area, independent school heads throughout the United States, and administrators affiliated with Diocesan school networks.

School Security Training for Faculty Members & Students

In addition to custom faculty training sessions conducted while promulgating new emergency response plans, our school security consultants frequently conduct staff training sessions at the request of independent school groups and public school districts focusing on best practices in threat recognition and reporting, active shooter response, and other specialized topics (e.g., bomb threat response, reunification procedures, etc.).

For schools and districts seeking an advanced level of readiness, CIS instructors also conduct school security training sessions for student groups custom-tailored according to the age of the audience. Following is a video of a special active shooter training session conducted during an Upper School assembly for Shorecrest Preparatory School.

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School Security Officer and SRO Training

CIS consultants can assist in maximizing the capabilities of on-site security officers and School Resource Officers (SROs) by training and certifying them as Guardian SafeSchool Protection Officers. As opposed to most police SRO programs, the Guardian SafeSchool Protection Officer course places significant emphasis on interpersonal communications and network building within the school community to proactively identify and de-escalate problems and reinforce positive school climate and culture. This distinction is highlighted well in the program’s 2014 peer review report by John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Some of the topics encompassed in the Guardian SafeSchool Protection Officer course include principles of school security, laws and liabilities unique to schools, youth social dynamics and adolescent psychology, the role of uniformed officers in reinforcing school climate and culture, youth substance abuse, threat assessment and management, physical security, response to school emergencies, active shooter response tactics, and first aid for trauma emergencies.

As of 2020, over 500 security officers and SROs have graduated the Guardian SafeSchool Protection Officer course including the new armed security force adopted by Newtown Public Schools in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting.

School Security Training Videos

The following videos were produced as a webinar version of our security and emergency planning workshop for school leaders.

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Learn more about our experience and school security expertise...

Our School Security Consultant Team: Expertise & Accomplishments

- Our school security consultant team has assisted numerous schools and community organizations in assessing and improving readiness for targeted violence. Some examples of our clients include Academy of the Holy Names, Admiral Farragut Academy, American Career College, The Diocese of St. Petersburg, Calvary Christian High School, Clearwater Central Catholic High School, Hillel Academy, Kingswood Oxford School, North Cobb Christian School, Florida College, Saint Philips Episcopal Church and School, Sayre School, Savannah Christian Prepratory School, Shorecrest Preparatory School, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg Christian School, National Aviation Academy, The College of New Rochelle, West Coast University, and more.
- Following the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, our school security consultant team developed the Guardian SafeSchool Program® as a comprehensive and integrated program for reducing risks of mass homicide in schools. The CIS Guardian SafeSchool Program® was peer reviewed in 2014 by John Jay College of Criminal Justice and hailed as a ‘model for national best practices’ in school security. Click here to read the report.The Guardian SafeSchool officer training course, developed by our school security consultant team, was adopted in 2014 as the training model for Newtown Public Schools‘ new armed security force in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.
- Members of our school security consultant team assisted in developing the active assailant supplement for ASIS International’s new WVPI-2020/AA, Workplace Violence and Active Assailant – Prevention, Intervention, and Response Standard.
- Our school security consultants possess certifications including PSP® (Physical Security Professional) board certification through ASIS International, cATO® (Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer), and CPS (Certified Protection Specialist) credentials.
- CIS school security consultants have trained thousands of educators and security professionals at workshops and conferences conducted nationwide in school security and emergency readiness topics.
- In addition to schools, our consultants provide specialized assistance around the world on matters related to managing risks of active shooter violence. Examples our clients outside the academic community include the US DOJ, US SOCOM, Ministry of Interior of Iraq, European Commission, European Central Bank, European External Action Service, and Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe.

Our School Security Consultants

Craig Gundry, PSP, cATO

Craig Gundry is a CIS security consultant and expert witness with over 30-years of specialized focus on active shooter violence, school security, and terrorism. As an expert specialized in managing risks of targeted violence, Craig assisted in the development of ASIS International’s new WVPI-2020/AA, Workplace Violence and Active Assailant – Prevention, Intervention, and Response Standard and the Guardian SafeSchool Program® standards for school security.

Craig provides expert commentary for national news organizations and is a columnist for Workplace Violence Today magazine. He is also a TEDx presenter and speaker at conferences worldwide on topics related to terrorism, school security, and workplace violence.

In addition to his role at CIS, Craig is also a lead instructor for the S2 Institute’s Anti-Terrorism Officer course and advanced seminars on security risk assessment, active shooter preparations, physical security, and emergency response planning. His previous students include over 5,000 security and public safety professionals from over 50 nations. He also lectures on security topics for John Jay College of Criminal Justice and presents PSP® exam preparation courses for ASIS International.

Hector Rodriguez, cATO, FCP, CPO

Hector is the Assistant Vice President of Special Projects and a staff consultant focusing on school security, workplace violence, and protection of houses of worship.

Mr. Rodriguez joined Critical Intervention Services in 2003 as a protection officer and progressively rose through the ranks serving in every leadership position until his promotion to Chief of Uniformed Services in 2012.

In 2019, Hector was promoted to Vice President of Protective Services and assumed responsibility for the operations of over 300 security officers, field supervisors, and operations center personnel. As the senior commander for our School Protection Officer division, Hector supervised the implementation of the Guardian SafeSchool Program at ten Tampa Area schools.

In 2022, Hector joined the CIS Special Projects Division as the Assistant Vice President of Special Projects.

Chad Clayton, CPP

Chad is a CIS school security consultant with over twenty-five years of security industry experience.

Chad is board-certified as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) through ASIS International. He is also a 1993 graduate of Executive Security International’s Advanced Executive Protection program and has an Associate in Arts Degree . He is an N.R.A certified Law Enforcement and Security Firearms Instructor in handgun and shotgun disciplines. In addition, Chad has conducted a variety of investigations and has hundreds of hours of advanced training in violence assessment, prevention, management, interviewing, interrogation, technical surveillance countermeasures, defensive tactics, and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.

Our School Security Consultant Team: Articles & Publications

Barrier Delay Measures and The Double Edged Sword

Craig Gundry October 6, 2022

While assisting a reporter after the Uvalde shooting, a question was posed that maybe warrants some discussion. During the interview, I described some examples of

Safe Rooms, Classroom Security, & The Active Shooter

Craig Gundry August 25, 2022

One of the most common problems we encounter in our work as security consultants is the absence of safe rooms and secure classrooms capable of

Physical Security and Active Shooter Attacks

Physical Security Design and The Active Shooter (Pt. 1)

Craig Gundry March 17, 2020

When many people think of physical security, the first ideas that come to mind are things like locks, alarm systems, screening with metal detectors, CCTV,

Mass Homicide in Schools - Risk Perspective

Mass Homicide in Schools: The Risk in Perspective

Craig Gundry February 7, 2020

When teaching security planning workshops for school leaders, I find it valuable to begin the presentation with a brief discussion to put the risk of

School Security Training Webinar for Independent School Leaders

Craig Gundry September 5, 2019

The following series of school security training videos is produced as a webinar edition of the one-day Integrated Security Planning for School Administrators (ISPSA) seminar

School Security Plan - A Holistic Approach

The School Security Plan: A Holistic Approach

Craig Gundry April 24, 2019

Effective school security plans begin with a strategy. To most, this sounds like an obvious point. However, some of the most common problems I encounter

Our School Security Consultant Team: Interviews

Since 1993, our consultants have provided hundreds of interviews to news media organizations related to prevention and response to active shooter violence and school security topics.

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Additional Interviews with Our School Security Experts

School districts across America consider arming teachers in aftermath of Nashville school shooting. | Fox News Channel
School districts across America consider arming teachers in aftermath of Nashville school shooting. | Fox News Channel
College campuses are open by design. But that's not the only reason it's hard to prevent shootings. | Crains Detroit Business
College campuses are open by design. But that's not the only reason it's hard to prevent shootings. | Crains Detroit Business
Is your child’s school safe? Depends on the school | 10 Tampa Bay
Is your child’s school safe? Depends on the school | 10 Tampa Bay
Watch: Gun control? Armed teachers? Here’s why no one solution will make schools safer | Blaze Media
Watch: Gun control? Armed teachers? Here’s why no one solution will make schools safer | Blaze Media

Contact Us

Contact us to discuss your school’s needs by calling Tel. +01 (727) 461-9417 or by completing the following form:

Click here to learn about the hundreds of clients who have turned to CIS for expert security solutions.

The Words of Our Clients and Peers

"The professionalism and expertise of CIS were invaluable in enabling the Tampa Electric Company to become among the very first energy companies in America to achieve this level of protection and security."

"The quality of the Guardian Program at Shorecrest has made our school the envy of any administrator that has come to observe the program...I give my highest recommendation to the Guardian SafeSchool Program."

"The training you are providing to military personnel and law enforcement professionals is unmatched by civilian readiness training for the war on terror."

"CIS not only comes in and assists us, but they're committed to the community. I never encounted that before."

"After a serious consideration of the CIS Guardian SafeSchool Program, the Lead Investigator finds neither fad nor novelty but in its place, creative innovation worthy of further study and application."

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