Staying One Step Ahead: Ending the Story of Active Shooter in America's Schools

by Tom Czyz

2024 Global Book Awards Silver Medalist in Education & Teaching

Columbine. Sandy Hook. Parkland. Uvalde. Like terrible deja vu, we see the same mistakes being made which lead to heartbreaking loss of life in America’s schools. While it seems like an unsolvable problem, what if there were actions you could take today to make your schools safer by staying one step ahead of the next shooting?

A former homicide detective and SWAT officer, author Tom Czyz brings extensive experience from the world of active shootings, including independent investigations at over sixty school shootings since 2012. In Staying One Step Ending the Story of Active Shooter in America’s Schools, he shares the unvarnished truth about how schools and law enforcement can protect children and staff.

Inside, you’ll

The myths and assumptions about school shootingsHow to fix your policies and protocolsBest practices for training and physical securityHow to respond in an incidentHow we can improve recovery after an incidentUsing the 2022 Uvalde school shooting as a primary case study, Czyz provides direct and detailed insights about the vulnerabilities schools need to consider, including recognizing bad policies, implementing proven training, and bolstering physical security.

In a world that feels out of control, Staying One Step Ahead shines a light into what schools and law enforcement can control to protect students by taking the right actions. Don’t count on the media or politicians to make the changes we need. You can start taking those actions now—to save lives and end the story of active shooter.

177 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2024

Reviews

[Maps R · Rating 5 out of 5]

As educators, we often worry about our students. Hearing stories about shooters is alarming, and we frequently discuss this with other teachers, always thinking what we would do if such a situation arises and how we can stay one step ahead. Officer Tom Czyz’ deep investigation into school shooting incidents serves as an empowering tool for all of us in the educational field.
What I liked most is how he explains the entire background related to these situations, demystifying common misconceptions and addressing the real factors that contribute to such tragedies, as well as what we can do to stop them. By creating a detailed step-by-step guide, he provides an actionable plan that we can implement in our schools.
I appreciate that he emphasizes the importance of being prepared, asserting that prevention is better than reaction. When a school is equipped to handle potential threats, we can truly make a difference. His call to action is directed at all of us, individuals who can make a difference in the classrooms. It is our time to be one step ahead for ourselves, our students, and our school community.

[AMR CAMI · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Flawless, engaging, educational, useful, and very well developed are some of the many words that I would use to describe this wonderful book. Tom Czyz did an incredible job when writing this amazing and helpful guide for all the individuals and businesses to anticipate and navigate some common risks, specially on personal safety and security. This book offers very good advice on the state of vigilance, and prepares us for a wide range of possible scenarios.
I really loved how the writer focused on the importance of situational awareness and creativity in the way to avoid danger by recognizing threats before materializing. Also, it was very interesting to feel the empowerment and the way this book got me into taking charge of my own security, in my personal life or in my organization.
Overall, I really liked how the author talked about overcoming our fears for making effective the state of being prepared for any circumstance, and would recommend this book to anyone interested in improving their safety and preparedness.

[CarlitasFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wake-up call
Tom Czyz has penned a book that deals with the 2022 Uvalde school shooting that left American inhabitants concerned about the situation. In “Staying one step ahead”, readers will learn a bit more about the vulnerabilities that some schools face but also how to prepare educators and students to deal with these kinds of incidents. It's also important to prepare them to recover from the chaos and shock that those incidents produce. This example was a delicate case but I believe that it should serve as a warning for future cases like this. Tom has included detailed information about organisation, policies, protocols and even signs to take into account to prevent possible shootings.
I dare say that this book is a bit tough but it’s also a wake-up call for inhabitants and educators to take action, protect schools and save lives. Without a doubt, I recommend it because it delves into a delicate scenario that must end.

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been a staggering number of school shootings in America over the past twenty-plus years. In fact, there have been so many that some individuals have probably grown numb to them and accepted them as inevitable. That sense of complacency in the face of such horror is just what this book seeks to avoid, though.

Written by a former SWAT officer and homicide detective, this is a deep dive into the uniquely American phenomenon of school shootings. It’s something that’s not fun to talk about, but it’s necessary. In this book, you will learn how to adjust your policies as a school administrator to make such an event less likely. You will also learn how to respond to an incident and how to deal with its aftermath. This is what it means to be one step ahead in a time when these traumatic events continue to occur.

[Caro Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading

I believe this book to be direct blunt and most importantly educational. Although I have never experienced such a traumatic event during my school days, the main topic of this book has become an unfortunate occurrence in schools across the United States. This highly educational book really opens up the eyes of the reader, and the author has really poured out all his knowledge and experience into this great guide.
I believe everyone should read this book and it should be a tool for all schools and staff as it is a great way to protect their students and everyone in school for that matter, from mass shootings. It's written in a way that is easy to comprehend and very informative. I think this book is a highly recommendation and a must read and should always be kept near schools.

[Carlos Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me speechless; this is a really important matter that everyone should be aware of. Talking about this topic of school shootings in America in a non-fiction book is a really creative way to approach this and make everyone conscious about this. Tom Czyz wrote this book in a way that he highlights the importance for change, showing the devastating impact of school shootings, which are the myths and misconceptions about this matter and proves with evidence what is true and what’s not.
What I liked the most is that he shows the prevention strategies, the response protocols and how the community should take all this into account and how they should prevent this. This is a book you’ll never regret of reading

[Daniel Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

full of truths and practical solutions

There is a very marked problem in our country, and we are all aware of it. That problem is the use of weapons by young people in schools. This book has a great point of view since the author is a former military man who studied hundreds of shootings in the United States. There is a very good section of the book where the author debunks common misconceptions about school safety, pointing out the deficiencies of school measures. But not only that, the author takes the time to propose immediate solutions for schools to implement and manage to reduce these behaviors in schools. This is really a very revealing book, full of truths and practical solutions.

[Margarita Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read.

School shootings are the number one concern for parents in the United States, and it is a problem that seems to have no solution, but as parents, we can do something by looking for information that will help save our children. ''Staying One Step Ahead'' is a book that sheds light on protocols, training practices, physical safety, how to act after a shooting, and more. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to keep their children safe. The information you find here can help you build safe schools because it is written by someone who has experience in this topic. I am sure this book will be helpful for everyone.

[Yolanda Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something that has become more and more of a constant concern every day is the whole issue of school shootings. For me, it is incredible that a child can have access to a weapon and also that they can make such a delicate decision, so this book completely caught my attention because it is full of information about the shootings and in addition to making an active assessment of what has happened in the past, gives a lot of recommendations to be avoided in the future, such as better policies and protocols that seems to me the most fundamental so that this does not continue to happen. Highly recommended, all school principals should read it and apply it.

[Saya Jacaranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read is very well made.

School shootings are a difficult topic to talk about, but this author did an amazing job. The book goes straight to the point and it is precise and assertive. I got insides into what is behind such a shooting and how to prevent it and handle it when it happens. So, this book offers the whole package. I feel like this book should be read by all school directors and people in charge. It would help to handle these situations in a much more effective way. The chapters are very well structured and clear. This read is very well made. I recommend this book a lot. It will enrich your mind for sure.

[Aneley Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shocking but necessary read.

This book gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand, when I found it, I just couldn't believe it was real; I couldn't believe the magnitude of the problem was such that a book was written about it. On the other hand, I thank the author for this creation. It is simple, clear and concise. It proposes a series of tips and tools to make schools a safer place and avoid a new tragedy.
Staying One Step Ahead by Tom Czyz is based on the author's extensive experiences as a homicide detective and SWAT officer in which he has studied cases of school shootings. It is a useful read because it gives the possibility of an immediate change, with clear and applicable actions.

[Laura]

Excellent

Excellent book that faces school shootings head on and clearly lays out what can be done to prevent them or minimize damage from them. There are a couple of grammar issues but this is one book where it didn't even bother me (this is a rare situation!) because the contents of the book were so good. This would be a great book for school administrators or board members to read, teachers as well. The book focuses on school shootings specifically, though leaders in other organizations who have concerns may find it helpful to read as well. The author is with a security/safety consulting firm, and has a lot of knowledge on this subject. Highly recommend.

[Camilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

As a foreigner, I have always been terrified of the social problem in the United States related to school shootings. The news presents this issue in a chilling way and really makes the viewer not want to have anything to do with this difficult subject. However, this book presents this problem in a different way and from the beginning, it generates empathy with the reader. I was struck by the fact that in the introduction, the author mentions “More so anything, I wish this book didn't need to exist”; this awakened an interest in me to continue reading.

[Melissa Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rough read but in simple, easy-to-understand language. I appreciate the way Tom Czyz brought in the political aspects to this conversation and suggested how we should be talking about it politically. I enjoyed the ways he suggested on how everyone can do better. Just because it may or may not have happened to you, it doesn't give you a run-away card on having these conversations. We need to talk about the ins and outs of all of this. It's a book I will be going back to over and over.

[Mia C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book tackles the heavy issue of school shootings, something that has affected many communities. Readers will appreciate the direct and honest tone Czyz uses, as he brings his years of experience as a former homicide detective and SWAT officer to offer solutions. The book doesn’t just talk about the problem, but mainly focuses on what can be done, so that's something I liked.
I think readers will likely feel empowered by the idea that schools and communities can take control of their own safety. Overall, this book is intense, but it gives hope.

[Santiago Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really eye opening

Staying One Step Ahead: Ending the Story of Active Shooter in America’s Schools by Tom Czyz is an eye-opening and crucial read for anyone concerned about school safety.
The use of real case studies, like Uvalde, adds weight to the recommendations, making them feel urgent and necessary. This book is a must-read for educators, parents, and policy-makers committed to keeping students safe.

[Nadine Gazzola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information

I have heard Tom speak in person and reading this I could picture him speaking it right in front of me.
It is real life information that everyone should be aware of. Schools need to be a sanctuary for children. A place for them to be safe.
It doesn't take long to read, but the information that you take away is invaluable.

[Jenna Griffo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has left me absolutely speechless! In today’s world, this subject is a tough one to take on but Tom covers it spot on!

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST read for every administrator out there!