As the founder of Youth Risk Prevention Specialists and creator of the SafeAware© program, Suzanne Sibole works with school districts nationwide to significantly increase their levels of safety. With the SafeAware© program, schools receive step-by-step assistance developing safety and crisis response plans and setting up violence threat assessment teams. Suzanne trains all staff members on everyday school safety, detecting the warning signs of suicide and violence, and the importance of reporting concerns and following up. She works with key staff members that will comprise a threat assessment team, until they are confident assessing individual cases and managing potential threats on their own. She also speaks to parents about their critical role in school safety and violence prevention.
Suzanne earned a B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Counseling Psychology and a Substance Abuse Certificate, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Criminology from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
She trained at the Gavin de Becker & Associates Advanced Threat Assessment & Management Academy in Los Angeles and has trained on school safety, violence warning signs, and threat assessment with national experts Michael Dorn, Dr. Randy Borum, Dr. Reid Meloy, Dr. Kris Mohandie, Dr. Steve Albrecht, Steve Weston, Bob Martin and Dr. James McGee. Suzanne is a member of ATAP (Association of Threat Assessment Professionals) and attends their training conferences to stay current in this ever-evolving field.
Accomplishments include leading a team to develop an award-winning district crisis and safety plan, working with FEMA to conduct an emergency planning workshop for faith-based organizations, and receiving the Lighthouse Award from the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) for top safety plan in the state. She is a certified trainer for Readiness & Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Emergency Operations Plans and for the iloveuguysfoundation Standard Response Protocol (SRP). She has been interviewed for multiple news shows, podcasts and articles on school safety. Her blog focuses on all aspects of school safety and can be accessed here.
Suzanne has worked in Wisconsin, New Mexico, and New York as a School Counselor, AODA Prevention Educator, District Safe & Drug Free Schools Coordinator, and Prevention Consultant for a statewide agency. She is currently based in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area.