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If you work for a school in the state of South Carolina, or you have a child who attends one, you are probably well aware of the law that was passed last year, requiring all public schools to hold two active shooter drills per year.
Doing the drill is not up for debate, but every public school has some flexibility in the approach it chooses to take in fulfilling the requirement. This flexibility is meant to ensure that every school selects an active shooter training program that best meets its unique needs, but for school principals and other decision makers, that’s a lot of responsibility to take on.
What if the drill isn’t helpful? What if it scares students and staff? What if it’s an absolute mess? What if…
These are certainly valid concerns, but they’re also concerns that can and should be addressed. Let’s discuss the characteristics that your school’s active shooter training and drills should follow in order to be helpful and also provide a positive experience for everyone involved.
Keep in mind that your active shooter drill is designed for students, not just adults. The format, concepts, and steps should be simple and straightforward enough for children and teens to understand. If you are practicing these drills with elementary students, the training should be focused toward staff with the intention of protecting the students. In other words, an elementary student’s role in an active shooter drill will be minimal.
Consider partnering with a mental health professional to ensure that your training process and/or materials are appropriate for students with disabilities.
Active shooter drills are not like fire drills; students have not been practicing them every year since kindergarten. For any students coming from charter schools or other private schools, this may be the first active shooter drill they’ve ever done. So, don’t expect everyone to fall into line when you announce the drill. You will likely need a team of trained individuals to give instructions and guide your students and staff through the drill.
One of the main reasons that you must prepare logistically for your school’s active shooter drill is to ensure the physical and psychological safety of your students and staff.
Do you have students or staff with unique physical needs? Don’t ponder that for too long; the answer is almost certainly yes. Instead, determine what types of physical needs exist and figure out how you can and should meet those needs during training. Give special consideration to those with disabilities and health concerns, but also plan for standard things, such as having water bottles on hand, providing bathroom breaks and addressing traffic coordination if any part of the training will be happening outside the school building.
While you must take physical safety into account, remember that the purpose of an active shooter drill is to provide knowledge, teach specific skills, and give participants the opportunity to develop those skills. To protect mental health during that process, consider involving a professional team of active shooter response instructors, law enforcement officials, or school mental health professionals. These qualified individuals can engage in the planning phase of the drill as well as assist with monitoring and executing the drill.
Another key to protecting and promoting mental health through the active training process is to take time to assess and process the drill when it’s over. Consider holding a speaking event or form breakout groups where students can freely discuss their thoughts and feelings about the drill, including what they learned, what was impactful to them, what was confusing, etc. When students restate in their own words what they learned from the drill, they will have better recall when it really counts.
Another benefit of forming discussion groups is that the feedback offered will provide school leadership with valuable insight on how to better approach an active shooter drill next time.
SLED will evaluate active shooter training for schools upon request. Another way to ensure that your training and drills meet the appropriate requirements is to rely on a resource that’s compliant with SLED. ProActive Response Group is that resource. Our Active Shooter Response Training is the only training of its kind in South Carolina that has been recognized by SLED as compliant. Contact us today to learn more!
Jim served as a Sheriff’s Deputy in Illinois for 30 years. During his time as a Deputy, Jim served on the SWAT team as an operator, team leader and Commander. Jim was involved in several barricaded gunman/hostage incidents as well as service of high risk arrest and search warrants.
Jim was a member of the US Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force where he performed surveillance and fugitive apprehension. His team was responsible for thousands of high risk felony fugitive arrests. Jim also served in the patrol division where he earned the rank of Sergeant and was responsible for patrol operations. Jim received numerous awards throughout his career to include Deputy of the Year, medal of valor and unit citation for SWAT operations.
Jim was a state certified CQB (Close Quarter Battle) SWAT instructor as well as an Active Shooter Response instructor, providing training for multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Illinois.
I’m a proven leader with a diverse background in defense, law enforcement, and emergency response. My career began as a Scout Sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps, where I earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. I then served as a security contractor in Afghanistan and Iraq, further developing my tactical and crisis management skills.
Domestically, I served as a Deputy for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, earning a Medal of Valor, and as a firefighter, where I was awarded a Life Saving Ribbon. These roles reflect my commitment to safety and service, demonstrating leadership under pressure and a passion for protecting others.
As part of the Proactive Response Group Team, I design and deliver comprehensive medical training, developing lesson plans and conducting hands-on sessions. I ensure that participants are equipped with essential medical skills, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and readiness. My role is vital in preparing our team to handle medical emergencies confidently and competently.
Email: jpregel16@gmail.com
Phone: 720-382-3184
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-pregel-67765451/
Chris is a retired Major from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina. Chris was third in command over operations, overseeing more than 300 sworn Deputies as well as all special teams within the Sheriff’s Office. In 2012, Chris helped to organize a Dignitary Protection Team within the Sheriff’s Office that assisted the Secret Service with Presidential and Vice Presidential visits throughout the state. In addition to his normal duties, Chris performs private security for dignitaries, celebrities, as well as 12 years with the Miss America Organization. Chris has been instructing Active shooter Response with ProActive Response Group since 2021.
In his down time, Chris enjoys time with his wife and daughter, as well as watching sports and fishing.
Email: ctaylor@proactiverg.com
Phone: 864-979-0978
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-taylor-331b00150/
Tyrie Fowler is an Active Shooter Response instructor at Proactive Response Group and an Emergency Medicine Trauma Nurse at Prisma Health in Greenville. A Greenville native, Tyrie earned his Exercise Science degree from the University of South Carolina and his nursing degree from Mary Black School of Nursing. He joined Greenville Health System in 2015, transitioning from Orthopedic Trauma to Emergency Medicine. At Prisma Health, a Level One Trauma Center, he is part of the Trauma Nurse Leader team, with training in Advanced Trauma Care (ATCN) and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC). Tyrie is pursuing certifications in Emergency Nursing (CEN) and Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN).
Tyrie enjoys Fall for its long runs, college football (Go Gamecocks!), and hunting, including deer and quail. He also loves smoking recipes with a creative twist. As a medical instructor, Tyrie empowers bystanders to provide critical assistance in emergencies, teaching them to control bleeding and manage injuries, ensuring they leave his class confident in making a difference.
Steven J. Anderson is currently an Active Shooter Response Instructor for ProActive Response Group; he enjoys empowering people to survive in life threatening situations. Steve grew up in central Minnesota and spent three years with the United States Army. He graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. Steve worked as a federal agent for the United States Border Patrol where he was a member of the U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC): completing multiple assignments in Central & South America, an assignment with the United Nations and the Deputy Director (A) of the National Air Security Operation Center. In 2020 he retired from working in Federal Law Enforcement.
In his spare time he enjoys the outdoors especially bow hunting. Steve is a proud husband and father to 3 wonderful daughters.
Rob is originally from Louisville, CO. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2003 and served as a Combat Engineer Officer until 2012. Rob deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009 and 2010 where he planned and implemented force protection strategy, counter improvised explosive device operations, and mobility operations for Third Battalion Sixth Marine Regiment and Third Battalion Seventh Marine Regiment . Upon his departure from the military, Rob began to teach firearms and tactics with Arizona based Alpine Arms while simultaneously running his own small residential security consulting firm. Rob relocated the South Carolina in 2021 and joined ProActive Response Group in early 2023.
When not working Rob spends time with his wife Lindsey and son Theo. He enjoys stand up paddle boarding, visiting the rifle range, four wheeling, and camping.
Phone: 720-382-3184
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-christian-29579649/
Andy Sexton spent 12 years with the Greenville County Sheriff’s office in South Carolina, where he held the rank of Uniform Patrol Sergeant. His experience includes serving as an assistant SWAT team leader, involvement in high-risk incidents, including hostage rescues and the protection of dignitaries, working in criminal investigations (including armed robbery and homicide), and serving on the training committee for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.
