Why is a student's digital world important in threat assessments?

Students increasingly communicate, express grievances, and display warning signs through digital channels such as social media and messaging apps. Ignoring these platforms can leave critical indicators of potential threats undetected. Integrating digital review into the threat assessment process provides a more complete picture of a student's behavior and intent.

Who should be included on a school's behavioral threat assessment team?

A well-rounded threat assessment team should include educators, mental health professionals, administrators, and law enforcement liaisons. Adding a tech-savvy educator or staff member is specifically recommended to ensure the student's digital presence is accurately evaluated. Diverse perspectives on the team strengthen the overall assessment quality.

What role does trust play in behavioral threat assessment and management?

Trust between school staff, students, families, and community stakeholders is foundational to an effective threat assessment program. When students and families trust the process, they are more likely to share information that can prevent harm. Maintaining that trust over time ensures the sustainability and credibility of the school's safety efforts.

Behavior Threat Assessment and Management i...

Behavior Threat Assessment and Management in the Digital World

This episode of School Safety Today explores how schools can integrate students' digital worlds into behavioral threat assessment and management processes. Host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Lea Bauer, a former U.S. Secret Service agent and threat assessment expert, who offers practical guidance on building effective, trust-based threat assessment teams. Bauer emphasizes that a comprehensive digital review is now essential to any thorough school safety evaluation.

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By theresa.sullivan · February 18, 2025, 8:00 AM UTCAssociation of Threat Assessment ProfessionalsBauer S&i SpecialistsBehavioral Threat AssessmentDr. Amy Grosso

Key takeaways

Incorporating a student's digital presence is essential for a complete and accurate behavioral threat assessment.

Including a tech-savvy educator on the threat assessment team improves the quality of digital environment reviews.

Building and maintaining trust with stakeholders is critical to sustaining an effective campus safety culture throughout the assessment process.

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Lea Bauer, an expert in threat assessment and protective intelligence. Lea highlights the value of incorporating a student's digital world into threat assessments and offers schools practical guidance and resources for success. She also provides guidance on how to build and maintain trust with various stakeholders.

Integrating a student's digital world is vital for a thorough behavioral threat assessment.

KEY POINTS:

Integrating a student's digital world is vital for a thorough behavioral threat assessment.
Adding a tech-savvy educator to the team ensures the student's digital presence is accurately assessed.
Building and maintaining trust is essential for sustaining campus safety throughout the threat assessment process.

About the Guest

Our guest, Lea Bauer, brings over 25 years of expertise in threat assessment, protective intelligence, physical security operations, executive protection, and investigations. She is the founder of Bauer S&I Specialists, LLC, a private investigative and security firm serving corporate and individual clients, with a specialized focus on protective intelligence and security solutions for the entertainment industry.

As a consultant for SIGMA, now part of Raptor, Lea provides expert guidance and training in threat assessment and management to K-12 schools, colleges, workplaces, and high-profile individuals and families. A licensed private investigator, she is also an active member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

Lea's impressive career includes her tenure as a Senior Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service, where she conducted threat assessments, provided physical security, and safeguarded national leaders. She also worked closely with the Department of Defense to deliver training on counterterrorism strategies, including tackling extremist threats and terrorist financing. Before her law enforcement career, Lea was a licensed professional counselor, giving her a unique perspective on human behavior and risk dynamics.