In pursuit of school safety across our region, The Harris County Sheriff’s Office brought together school superintendents, district police chiefs and emergency management leaders for Harris County’s first Active Threat Simulation Exercise. This was a collaborative training designed to strengthen preparedness and emergency response in schools.
This January, in collaboration with the Emergency Management and School Safety Office of Region 4 Education Service Center, the simulation exercise was conducted, giving school and public safety leaders a unique opportunity to analyze realistic active threat scenarios, identify gaps, and strengthen coordination before a crisis occurs. The exercise is a requirement of the Uvalde Strong Act.
“The objective of the law is to improve our response to emergencies, especially regarding active shooter incidents, and there is always something we can learn and improve,” said Harris County Sheriff Ed González.
Participants engaged in detailed scenario-based discussions that guided agencies through each phase of an active threat response, from initial notification and on-scene operations to reunification and recovery. The exercise emphasized communication, decision‑making and coordination among jurisdictions and agencies.
Led by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, this meeting emphasized communication, decision-making, and coordination among jurisdictions and agencies. Photos: HCSO
As part of the training, participants reviewed images and timelines of the Uvalde school shooting, using the tragedy as a learning tool to examine response challenges, critical decision points, and opportunities for improvement in future incidents.
“We do not build resilient communities, nor communities prepared to respond to incidents, in terms of personnel or leaders, without collaboration,” said Ken Culbreath, Regional 4 Emergency Management Director.
The simulation exercise also highlighted the importance of having life-saving resources available on school campuses, including floor plans, hemorrhage control first-aid kits, ballistic shields, master keys and access controls, all of which can significantly reduce response times and save lives during an emergency.
Feedback from the participating superintendents on the value of this type of collaboration was overwhelmingly positive. “Being in the room with all the right people, to advise, discuss, listen and analyze how others handle situations, will only make us stronger,” said Dr. Jennifer Blaine, Superintendent of the Spring Branch Independent School District. Dr. Doug Killian, Superintendent of the Cy-Fair Independent School District, added: “This better prepares us for any eventuality and to take care of our students.”
Dr. Adriana Tamez, president and chief executive officer of the Tejano Center and superintendent of the Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success, added: “Being in the same room with law enforcement and having these candid conversations makes a difference when it comes to protecting our students.”
Other school leaders agreed on the importance of working shoulder to shoulder with emergency services. “We have plans, but this allows us to test them in a real environment,” said Mark DiBella, Chief Executive Officer of YES Prep Public Schools.
This simulation exercise marks the start of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing commitment to joint planning and communication among school districts.
“School safety is not solved with a single meeting,” Sheriff González said. “It is an ongoing process of preparedness, collaboration, and accountability, and Harris County is committed to leading this effort.”
