Grants in Action: When One Grant Strengthens an Entire Community
- Jan 9
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
How a Small Grant Created Districtwide—and Communitywide—Impact
When people think of classroom grants, they often imagine new materials, special projects, or resources that benefit a single class or school. But sometimes, a grant does something even bigger—it strengthens systems, builds expertise, and creates ripple effects that reach every school and the broader community.
That’s precisely what happened through a $450 North Kitsap Schools Foundation grant supporting advanced Threat Assessment Training for NKSD Threat Assessment Coordinator Star Butterton.
From One Training to Districtwide Impact
With Foundation support, Star attended the Western Regional Joint Threat Assessment Training (WRJTAT) in May 2025, one of the nation’s leading professional trainings focused on Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM). The training brings together top experts, researchers, and practitioners to share best practices, case studies, and emerging research on preventing targeted violence—particularly in school settings.
Star’s role impacts every school in the North Kitsap School District. While threat assessment work often focuses on students in grades 6–12, its reach is truly districtwide, supporting students, staff, and families by ensuring that safety concerns are addressed thoughtfully, consistently, and equitably across NKSD. The training strengthens systems and practices that help schools respond with care and accuracy, with prevention at the center.
Expertise That Protects Students and Supports Equity
Star is one of approximately 275 Certified Threat Managers (CTMs) nationwide through the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) and one of only three CTMs in Washington state who practice school-based threat assessment. Maintaining this certification requires continued professional learning and networking to stay current on research, public policy, and national standards.
Research shows that when schools use evidence-based threat assessment processes:
School climate improves
Students are more likely to remain in school
Out-of-school suspensions decrease
Racial and disability-based disparities in discipline are reduced.
By investing in advanced training, the Foundation helps ensure NKSD’s approach to safety prioritizes prevention, fairness, and student support—not fear or punitive responses.
A Grant That Multiplies Its Impact
While this grant covered the cost of one training registration, its impact extends far beyond those two days. Star regularly trains NKSD staff in Level 1 threat assessment, building capacity within schools, and strengthening multidisciplinary teams across the district.
And the ripple effects don’t stop there.
As a result of this training, Star is now reaching beyond NKSD to offer threat assessment training and support to the broader community, helping to expand best practices beyond school walls. By sharing expertise with regional partners, agencies, and community organizations, this grant is helping create safer environments not just in classrooms, but throughout the community.
As Star shared in her impact report:
“Training by experts in Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management has a long-lasting impact. It serves students, staff, and the community in creating safety.”
Why This Matters
This is a powerful reminder that not all grants are limited to a single classroom or school. Some investments build leadership, expertise, and systems that protect and support thousands of students—and extend into the wider community.
This is Grants in Action at its best:
A small investment creating lasting, districtwide—and communitywide—impact.
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