Empowering Texas School Safety

Posted by: Dr. Justin D'Arienzo, Psy.D., ABPP

Empowering Texas School Safety: The D’Arienzo Psychology Approach to Guardian Programs

In an era of increasing focus on school safety, Texas Independent School Districts (ISDs) are at the forefront of implementing comprehensive security measures. A key component of many of these strategies is the “Guardian Program,” which authorizes school personnel to be armed on campus. While this initiative provides an immediate line of defense, it also places immense responsibility on these individuals. Ensuring their psychological readiness and stability is not just a best practice, it’s a critical step in protecting students, staff, and the community. We provide consultation to ISD’s about both the Guardian Program and the School Marshal Program as well.

At D’Arienzo Psychology, we are proud to partner with Texas ISDs to support the development and implementation of their Guardian Programs. Dr. D’Arienzo is a national expert in providing MMPI testing and security officer evaluations. He has been conducting armed officer evaluations since his time as a Navy Psychologist 20 years ago. His specialized services, including psychological evaluations and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) testing, are designed to ensure that armed officers (Level 3 Commissioned Security officers and Level 4 Personal Protection Officers), School Guardians, and School Marshalls are not only physically capable but also psychologically fit and suitable for the immense demands of their role.

For more information about our Texas Testing Process

Contact us at 904-379-8094; [email protected]

The Crucial Role of Psychological Evaluation in School Guardian Programs

The decision to arm school staff is a serious one, and the individuals entrusted with this duty must possess more than just marksmanship skills. They need to demonstrate a high degree of emotional regulation, sound judgment, and the ability to remain calm under extreme pressure. This is where a comprehensive psychological evaluation becomes indispensable.

Our evaluations go beyond a simple interview. We utilize evidence-based psychological assessments to provide a thorough, objective analysis of a candidate’s personality and mental health. Key areas we assess include:

• Stress Tolerance and Emotional Regulation: The ability to handle high-stress, potentially life-threatening situations without a breakdown in judgment.
• Impulse Control and Decision-Making: Evaluating a candidate’s tendency toward impulsivity or reckless behavior, which is critical for an armed role.
• Social Competence and Communication: The capacity to interact professionally and de-escalate conflicts with students, parents, and fellow staff.
• Absence of Psychological Disorders: Screening for conditions such as severe depression, anxiety, or paranoia that could impair a person’s ability to perform their duties safely.

MMPI Testing: The Gold Standard for High-Stakes Roles

As a core component of our services, we use the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), one of the most widely respected and empirically validated personality assessments in the world. The MMPI is not a pass/fail test in the traditional sense, but rather a tool to identify specific personality traits and potential psychological vulnerabilities.

For Texas Guardian Programs, the MMPI is invaluable because it:

• Identifies Potential Red Flags: The MMPI’s built-in validity scales are specifically designed to detect attempts to “fake” answers or present an overly positive image. This ensures we get an accurate and honest assessment of a candidate’s psychological profile.
• Provides a Standardized, Objective Measure: Unlike a subjective interview, the MMPI provides a standardized report that can be used to compare candidates against established norms for high-risk professions like law enforcement and armed security.
• Screens for Undetected Issues: The test can reveal underlying psychological issues that may not be apparent in a typical background check or interview, providing school districts with an extra layer of confidence in their selection process.

Partnering for Safer Schools, Faster Results

At D’Arienzo Psychology, we understand the urgency and importance of school safety initiatives. Our process is designed to be efficient and secure, with a same-day or 24-hour turnaround on results. This allows Texas ISDs to move forward with the Guardian Program promptly while maintaining the highest standards of due diligence. Our evaluations can be conducted virtually via HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing, making our services accessible to districts across the state of Texas.

By integrating rigorous psychological evaluations and MMPI testing into their selection process, Texas ISDs can not only comply with legal and ethical requirements but also proactively enhance the safety and well-being of their entire school community.

Learn More About Our Services

To learn more about how D’Arienzo Psychology can assist your Texas ISD in developing a robust and psychologically sound Guardian Program, please contact us today. Our team is committed to providing the expert psychological services necessary to help you ensure the mental and emotional fitness of your armed school personnel.

For more information about our Texas Testing Process

Contact us at 904-379-8094; [email protected]

List of Texas ISD’s: Abbott ISD, Abernathy ISD, Abilene ISD, Academy ISD, Agua Dulce ISD, Alamo Heights ISD, Albany ISD, Aledo ISD, Alice ISD, Alief ISD, Allen ISD, Alpine ISD, Alvarado ISD, Alvin ISD, Amarillo ISD, Anderson-Shiro ISD, Andrews ISD, Angleton ISD, Anna ISD, Anson ISD, Anton ISD, Apple Springs ISD, Aransas County ISD, Aransas Pass ISD, Archer City ISD, Argyle ISD, Arlington ISD, Aspermont ISD, Athens ISD, Atlanta ISD, Aubrey ISD, Avery ISD, Avinger ISD, Azle ISD, Baird ISD, Ballinger ISD, Balmorhea ISD, Bandera ISD, Bangs ISD, Banquete ISD, Barbers Hill ISD, Bardwell ISD, Bastrop ISD, Bay City ISD, Beaumont ISD, Beckville ISD, Bellevue ISD, Belton ISD, Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco ISD, Benavides ISD, Benjamin ISD, Big Sandy ISD (Polk), Big Sandy ISD (Upshur), Big Spring ISD, Bishop ISD, Blackwell CISD, Blanco ISD, Blanket ISD, Bloomburg ISD, Blooming Grove ISD, Blossom ISD, Blue Ridge ISD, Blum ISD, Boerne ISD, Bogata ISD, Boling ISD, Bonham ISD, Booker ISD, Borger ISD, Bovina ISD, Bowie ISD, Boyd ISD, Brady ISD, Brazos ISD, Brazosport ISD, Breckenridge ISD, Bremond ISD, Brenham ISD, Bridge City ISD, Bridgeport ISD, Brookeland ISD, Brooks County ISD, Brownfield ISD, Brownsboro ISD, Brownsville ISD, Brownwood ISD, Bruceville-Eddy ISD, Bryson ISD, Bryan ISD, Bryson ISD, Buckholts ISD, Buena Vista ISD, Buffalo ISD, Bullard ISD, Bunker Hill ISD, Burkburnett ISD, Burleson ISD, Burnet CISD, Burton ISD, Bushland ISD, Caddo Mills ISD, Caldwell ISD, Calhoun County ISD, Callisburg ISD, Calvert ISD, Cameron ISD, Camp ISD, Canadian ISD, Caney Creek ISD, Canton ISD, Canyon ISD, Carrizo Springs CISD, Carthage ISD, Castleberry ISD, Catarina ISD, Cedar Hill ISD, Celeste ISD, Celina ISD, Center ISD, Centerville ISD (Leon), Centerville ISD (Trinity), Central Heights ISD, Central ISD (Angelina), Channelview ISD, Chapel Hill ISD (Smith), Chapel Hill ISD (Titus), Charlotte ISD, Cherokee ISD, Chico ISD, Chillicothe ISD, Chilton ISD, China Spring ISD, Chireno ISD, Chisum ISD, Christoval ISD, Cisco ISD, Clarendon ISD, Clarksville ISD, Claude ISD, Clear Creek ISD, Cleburne ISD, Clifton ISD, Clint ISD, Clute ISD, Clyde CISD, Coahoma ISD, Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD, Coleman ISD, College Station ISD, Collinsville ISD, Colorado ISD, Columbia-Brazoria ISD, Columbus ISD, Comal ISD, Comfort ISD, Commerce ISD, Como-Pickton CISD, Comanche ISD, Conroe ISD, Conrad ISD, Coolidge ISD, Coppell ISD, Copperas Cove ISD, Coahoma ISD, Corpus Christi ISD, Corrigan-Camden ISD, Corsicana ISD, Cotulla ISD, Coupland ISD, Crane ISD, Crandall ISD, Crawford ISD, Crockett County CCSD, Crockett ISD, Crosby ISD, Crosbyton CISD, Cross Plains ISD, Cross Roads ISD, Crowell ISD, Crowley ISD, Crystal City ISD, Cuero ISD, Culberson County-Allamoore ISD, Cumby ISD, Cushing ISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD, Dalhart ISD, Dallas ISD, Damon ISD, Danbury ISD, Dawson ISD (Dawson), Dawson ISD (Welch), Dayton ISD, De Leon ISD, Deer Park ISD, Dekalb ISD, Del Valle ISD, Denison ISD, Denton ISD, Denver City ISD, Desoto ISD, Detour ISD, Devine ISD, Dew ISD, Deweyville ISD, Diboll ISD, Dilley ISD, Dimmitt ISD, Dodd City ISD, Donna ISD, Douglass ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Dublin ISD, Duncanville ISD, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Eagle Pass ISD, Early ISD, East Bernard ISD, East Central ISD, East Chambers ISD, Eastland ISD, Ector ISD, Edcouch-Elsa ISD, Eden CISD, Edgewood ISD (Van Zandt), Edgewood ISD (Bexar), Edinburg CISD, Edna ISD, Education Service ISD, El Campo ISD, El Paso ISD, Electra ISD, Elkhart ISD, Elkhart North ISD, Elysian Fields ISD, Ennis ISD, Eustace ISD, Eustis ISD, Evadale ISD, Ezzell ISD, Fairfield ISD, Fall City ISD, Farmersville ISD, Farwell ISD, Fayetteville ISD, Ferris ISD, Flatonia ISD, Floresville ISD, Flour Bluff ISD, Flower Mound ISD, Floydada ISD, Follett ISD, Forestburg ISD, Forney ISD, Forsan ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Fort Davis ISD, Fort Hancock ISD, Fort Stockton ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Franklin ISD, Frankston ISD, Fredericksburg ISD, Freer ISD, Frenship ISD, Friendswood ISD, Friona ISD, Frisco ISD, Frost ISD, Fruitvale ISD, Ft Sam Houston ISD, Gainesville ISD, Galena Park ISD, Galveston ISD, Ganado ISD, Garden City ISD, Garland ISD, Garrison ISD, Gary ISD, George West ISD, Georgetown ISD, Gholson ISD, Giddings ISD, Gilmer ISD, Gladewater ISD, Goliad ISD, Gonzales ISD, Goose Creek CISD, Gordon ISD, Gorman ISD, Graford ISD, Graham ISD, Granbury ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Grand Saline ISD, Grandfalls-Royalty ISD, Granger ISD, Grapeland ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, Greenville ISD, Greenwood ISD, Gregory-Portland ISD, Gunter ISD, Guthrie CSD, Hale Center ISD, Hallettsville ISD, Hallsville ISD, Hamilton ISD, Hamlin ISD, Hamshire-Fannett ISD, Happy ISD, Hardin ISD, Hardin-Jefferson ISD, Harlingen CISD, Harmony ISD, Harmony Grove ISD, Harper ISD, Harrold ISD, Hart ISD, Haskell ISD, Hawkins ISD, Hawley ISD, Hays CISD, Hearne ISD, Hebbronville ISD, Hedley ISD, Hemphill ISD, Hempstead ISD, Henderson ISD, Henrietta ISD, Hereford ISD, Hermleigh ISD, Highland Park ISD (Dallas), Highland Park ISD (Potter), Highland ISD, Hillsboro ISD, Hondo ISD, Honey Grove ISD, Hooks ISD, Houston ISD, Howardwick ISD, Howe ISD, Hubbard ISD (Hill), Hubbard ISD (Bowie), Huckabay ISD, Huffman ISD, Hughes Springs ISD, Hull-Daisetta ISD, Humble ISD, Hunt ISD, Huntington ISD, Huntsville ISD, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Hutchins ISD, Idalou ISD, Iraan-Sheffield ISD, Irving ISD, Italy ISD, Itasca ISD, Jacksboro ISD, Jacksonville ISD, Jarrell ISD, Jasper ISD, Jayton-Girard ISD, Jefferson ISD, Jim Ned CISD, Joaquin ISD, Johnson City ISD, Jonesboro ISD, Joshua ISD, Judson ISD, Junction ISD, Karnack ISD, Karnes City ISD, Katy ISD, Kaufman ISD, Keene ISD, Keller ISD, Kemp ISD, Kenedy ISD, Kerens ISD, Kerrville ISD, Kermit ISD, Killeen ISD, Kingsville ISD, Kirbyville CISD, Klondike ISD, Knippa ISD, Knox City-O’Brien CISD, Kopperl ISD, Kosse ISD, La Feria ISD, La Grange ISD, La Joya ISD, La Marque ISD, La Porte ISD, La Vega ISD, La Vernia ISD, La Villa ISD, Lake Dallas ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Lake Worth ISD, Lancaster ISD, Laneville ISD, Laredo ISD, Laredo United ISD, Latexo ISD, Lavaca ISD, Lavon ISD, Leakey ISD, Leander ISD, Leary ISD, Lefors ISD, Legacy ISD, Leggett ISD, Leila ISD, Leon ISD, Levelland ISD, Lewisville ISD, Lexington ISD, Liberty Hill ISD, Liberty ISD, Linden-Kildare CISD, Lindsay ISD, Lingleville ISD, Lipan ISD, Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD, Little Elm ISD, Littlefield ISD, Live Oak ISD, Livingston ISD, Llano ISD, Lockhart ISD, Lometa ISD, London ISD, Lone Oak ISD, Longview ISD, Loop ISD, Loraine ISD, Lorena ISD, Lorenzo ISD, Los Fresnos CISD, Lott ISD, Lubbock-Cooper ISD, Lubbock ISD, Lueders-Avoca ISD, Lufkin ISD, Luling ISD, Lumberton ISD, Lyford CISD, Mabank ISD, Macdona ISD, Madisonville CISD, Magnolia ISD, Malakoff ISD, Malone ISD, Manor ISD, Mansfield ISD, Marble Falls ISD, Marfa ISD, Marion ISD, Marlin ISD, Marshall ISD, Mart ISD, Martins Mill ISD, Martinsville ISD, Mason ISD, Matagorda ISD, Mathis ISD, Maud ISD, May ISD, Maypearl ISD, McAllen ISD, McCamey ISD, McGregor ISD, McKinney ISD, McLean ISD, McLeod ISD, McMullen County ISD, Medina ISD, Medina Valley ISD, Melissa ISD, Memphis ISD, Menard ISD, Mercedes ISD, Merkel ISD, Mesquite ISD, Miami ISD, Midland ISD, Midlothian ISD, Midway ISD (McLennan), Midway ISD (Wood), Milford ISD, Miller Grove ISD, Millsap ISD, Mineola ISD, Mineral Wells ISD, Mission CISD, Monahans-Wickett-Pyote ISD, Montague ISD, Montgomery ISD, Mount Calm ISD, Mount Enterprise ISD, Mount Pleasant ISD, Mount Vernon ISD, Muenster ISD, Muleshoe ISD, Mullin ISD, Mumford ISD, Munday CISD, Nacogdoches ISD, Napoleon ISD, Natalia ISD, Navarro ISD, Navasota ISD, Nazareth ISD, Neches ISD, Nederland ISD, Needville ISD, New Boston ISD, New Braunfels ISD, New Caney ISD, New Deal ISD, New Diana ISD, New Home ISD, New Summerfield ISD, Newton ISD, Nixon-Smiley CISD, Nocona ISD, Nordheim ISD, North East ISD, North Forest ISD, North Lamar ISD, Northside ISD (San Antonio), Northside ISD (Wilbarger), Northwest ISD, Novice ISD, Nueces Canyon CISD, Nursery ISD, Oakwood ISD, Odem-Edroy ISD, Odessa ISD, Ogdenville ISD, Oglesby ISD, Olfen ISD, Olney ISD, Olton ISD, Onalaska ISD, Orange Grove ISD, Orangefield ISD, Ore City ISD, Overton ISD, O’Donnell ISD, Paducah ISD, Paint Creek ISD, Paint Rock ISD, Palacios ISD, Palestine ISD, Palmer ISD, Palo Pinto ISD, Panhandle ISD, Panola ISD, Paris ISD, Pasadena ISD, Patton Springs ISD, Pawnee ISD, Pearland ISD, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, Perrin-Whitt CISD, Perryton ISD, Petersburg ISD, Petrolia ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, Pilot Point ISD, Pine Tree ISD, Pittsburg ISD, Plains ISD, Plainview ISD, Plano ISD, Pleasant Grove ISD, Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD, Poth ISD, Poteet ISD, Poth ISD, Pottsboro ISD, Powell ISD, Prairie Lea ISD, Prairie Valley ISD, Premont ISD, Presidio ISD, Princeton ISD, Progreso ISD, Prosper ISD, Quanah ISD, Queen City ISD, Quinlan ISD, Quitman ISD, Rains ISD, Ralls ISD, Randolph Field ISD, Ranger ISD, Rankin ISD, Ransom Canyon ISD, Raymondville ISD, Reagan County ISD, Red Lick ISD, Red Oak ISD, Redwater ISD, Refugio ISD, Region 1 ISD, Region 2 ISD, Region 3 ISD, Region 4 ISD, Region 5 ISD, Region 6 ISD, Region 7 ISD, Region 8 ISD, Region 9 ISD, Region 10 ISD, Region 11 ISD, Region 12 ISD, Region 13 ISD, Region 14 ISD, Region 15 ISD, Region 16 ISD, Region 17 ISD, Region 18 ISD, Region 19 ISD, Region 20 ISD, Rice ISD, Richardson ISD, Richland Springs ISD, Richmond ISD, Rio Grande City CISD, Rio Hondo ISD, Rising Star ISD, Rivercrest ISD, River Road ISD, Roanoke ISD, Robstown ISD, Roby CISD, Rochelle ISD, Rockdale ISD, Rockport-Fulton ISD, Rocksprings ISD, Rockwall ISD, Rogers ISD, Roma ISD, Ropes ISD, Roscoe ISD, Rosebud-Lott ISD, Rotan ISD, Round Rock ISD, Rowlett ISD, Royal ISD, Royce City ISD, Rule ISD, Runge ISD, Rusk ISD, Sabine ISD, Sabine Pass ISD, Saint Jo ISD, Sam Rayburn ISD, Samnorwood ISD, San Angelo ISD, San Antonio ISD, San Augustine ISD, San Benito CISD, San Diego ISD, San Elizario ISD, San Felipe-Del Rio CISD, San Isidro ISD, San Marcos CISD, San Perlita ISD, San Saba ISD, Sanderson ISD, Sands CISD, Sanford-Fritch ISD, Sanger ISD, Santa Anna ISD, Santa Fe ISD, Santa Gertrudis ISD, Santa Maria ISD, Santo ISD, Savoy ISD, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, Schleicher ISD, Schulenburg ISD, Scotland ISD, Scurry-Rosser ISD, Seagraves ISD, Sealy ISD, Seminole ISD, Seven Points ISD, Seymour ISD, Shallowater ISD, Shamrock ISD, Sharyland ISD, Sheffield-Sheffield ISD, Shelbyville ISD, Shepherd ISD, Sherman ISD, Shiner ISD, Sidney ISD, Silsbee ISD, Silverton ISD, Simms ISD, Sinton ISD, Slaton ISD, Slidell ISD, Smiley ISD, Smithville ISD, Smyer ISD, Snyder ISD, Socorro ISD, Somerville ISD, Sonora ISD, South San Antonio ISD, Southside ISD, Southland ISD, Spearman ISD, Splendora ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Spring Hill ISD, Spring ISD, Springlake-Earth ISD, Spur ISD, Stamford ISD, Stanton ISD, Star ISD, Stephenville ISD, Sterling City ISD, Stockdale ISD, Strawn ISD, Sudan ISD, Sulphur Bluff ISD, Sulphur Springs ISD, Sundown ISD, Sunnyvale ISD, Sunray ISD, Sweetwater ISD, Taft ISD, Tahoka ISD, Talco ISD, Tatum ISD, Taylor ISD, Teague ISD, Temple ISD, Tenaha ISD, Terrell County ISD, Terrell ISD, Texarkana ISD, Texas City ISD, Texline ISD, The Woodlands ISD, Throckmorton ISD, Three Rivers ISD, Thrall ISD, Tidehaven ISD, Timpson ISD, Tioga ISD, Tolar ISD, Tom Bean ISD, Tornillo ISD, Trent ISD, Trenton ISD, Trinidad ISD, Trinity ISD, Troy ISD, Tulia ISD, Turkey-Quitaque ISD, Tuscola ISD, Tyler ISD, Union Grove IS