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«Back to all edWebinarsUsing the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) with Systems of Support to Prevent and Respond to Threatening Behavior
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Presented by Dewey Cornell, Ph.D., Virgil S. Ward Professor of Education, School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia; and Ellina Xiong, Ph.D., NCSP, MTSS Practice Lead, Branching Minds
Sponsored by Branching Minds
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Safety starts with discernment and prevention—the ability to identify concerning behaviors, prevent escalation, and respond with effective, research-based strategies. Join us for an insightful edLeader Panel with Dr. Dewey Cornell, the creator of the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) model. Moderated by Dr. Ellina Xiong, MTSS Practice Lead at Branching Minds, we will explore how the CSTAG model integrates with student supports to foster safer schools.
Discover how schools can use evidence-based threat assessment strategies alongside a proactive, tiered support system to identify and address student needs effectively. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A, giving you the opportunity to gain insights directly from Dr. Cornell. Learning objectives include:
- Understand key principles of the CSTAG and their role in promoting school safety
- Explore how a system of supports provides early identification and intervention for students displaying concerning behaviors
- Learn practical strategies for implementing a collaborative, data-driven approach to behavioral support using the CSTAG
This edLeader Panel will be of interest to K-12 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenters
Dewey G. Cornell, Ph.D. is an American forensic clinical psychologist known for his research on youth violence and school safety. He is Professor of Education in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, where he also holds the Virgil Ward Chair in Education. He is the Director of the University of Virginia’s Virginia Youth Violence Project, as well as a Faculty Associate at the university’s Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy. He is the principal author of the Virginia Student Threat Assessment Guidelines (now Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines, or CSTAG), which is widely used for threat assessment in schools in the United States and Canada.
Ellina Xiong, Ph.D., MTSS Practice Lead at Branching Minds, brings extensive experience leading Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) at the school, district, and state levels. She previously served as Assistant Director of MTSS for the Washington State Department of Education and supported statewide MTSS efforts in Minnesota. Dr. Xiong has a proven track record of helping districts of all sizes develop effective teaming practices, build impactful MTSS protocols and resources, and cultivate a culture of data-driven inquiry and improvement. Her expertise spans multiple data systems and levels of MTSS literacy, enabling her to guide sustainable systems change. At Branching Minds, she leverages this experience to strengthen the organization’s positioning, messaging, presentations, and practitioner resources.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the School Health & Safety community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Branching Minds is a leading K-12 educational technology platform designed to streamline the work of MTSS and make personalized learning sustainable. By integrating data and providing actionable insights, our platform empowers teachers to meet the unique needs, strengths, and challenges of every student. Branching Minds simplifies the MTSS process, giving teachers the tools and guidance needed to personalize support, freeing up their time to focus on building meaningful, positive relationships with students.
