Press Releases

Middletown, PA – As the new school year approaches, Congressman Scott Perry hosted a United States Secret Service seminar for over 130 educators and school administrators, representing nearly 50 public and private schools from around the region, to bolster school safety. Every public school in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District was on hand for the seminar.

“We love our children and need to keep them safe. Seminars like these save lives by providing a framework and resources to help teachers and other education professionals intervene before a tragedy can strike. I’m grateful for the opportunity to host this forum,” said Congressman Perry. “Any effort to curb violence in our communities takes comprehensive collaboration with a variety of sources. I look forward to continuing the conversation about public safety and securing our kids and schools.”

The seminar provided attendees with critical training and an opportunity to interact with our Nation’s leading experts from the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), a component of the U.S. Secret Service. The presentations included threat assessment training, tools to identify potential threats and student behaviors of concern, methods to investigate and gather background / behavior on troubled students, assessment techniques on how to know if a student poses a threat, and risk-management strategies and intervention techniques. This event was different from “active shooter” training; it provided proactive steps that gets help for kids in need – before they become desperate/violent.

“The Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center does an amazing job at conducting research and training for members of law enforcement, academia, health professionals and other public safety partners on the awareness and prevention of targeted school violence,” said James Henry, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service Philadelphia Field Office. “As an agency, we are committed to supporting our partners to deter any future violence within our communities.”

“I’m proud to partner with the exemplary professionals at the National Threat Assessment Center. James Henry, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Secret Service Philadelphia Field Office, and his team, were outstanding, and I appreciate the time and effort that went into this seminar. I’m especially grateful to the Middletown Area School District, and Superintendent Dr. Lori Suski, for hosting us, and the schools around the 10th Congressional District for attending this important event,” Perry concluded.