First school in Colorado recognized as a Safe2Tell Gold Star School
March 20, 2024 (THORNTON, Colo.) – Attorney General Phil Weiser recognized Stargate Charter School as the first Safe2Tell Gold Star School in Colorado at an event at the Adams 12 Five Star district school today. In the fall semester of the 2023-2024 school year, Safe2Tell commenced a new Gold Star program to acknowledge the work being done in Colorado schools relating to Safe2Tell education and outreach for their students, staff, and communities.
“School safety is a critical priority across Colorado, and we commend schools like Stargate for their leadership in Safe2Tell education and awareness,” said Weiser. “We look forward to recognizing more schools in Colorado as our trainers continue to educate students and teachers on the use of Safe2Tell as a one of many tools in student safety and wellbeing.”
During the 2021-2022 school year, Safe2Tell student ambassadors surveyed over 1,000 Colorado students. The survey found that students know about Safe2Tell, but don’t always know how and when to use it. Safe2Tell believes that the Gold Star program is a useful tool in bridging that gap and helping schools and communities consider all aspects of successful education and awareness.
As Safe2Tell Director, Stacey Jenkins explained, “We created this program to encourage best practices of Safe2Tell education and awareness in schools across Colorado, and we applaud school resource officers like Officer Mike Couture for taking the lead in working with Stargate to become a Gold Star School.”
“As a police officer, I’m always looking for additional resources to assist me in providing a safer school environment for the well-being of our students and staff. In certain circumstances, a student may feel more comfortable reporting anonymously rather than through school staff, an SRO, or a family member. Safe2Tell, in my experience, has proven to be effective, safe, reliable, and possibly even a lifesaving tool. I am proud of the part I had along with Stargate to be able to achieve this Gold Star status using the Colorado’s Safe2Tell anonymous reporting system,” said Officer Mike Couture, School Resource Officer for Stargate Charter School.
Safe2Tell is a successful violence intervention and prevention program for students to anonymously report threats to their own, and others’, safety. Safe2Tell is not an emergency response unit nor mental health counseling service provider; it is an information pathway for distributing anonymous reports to local law enforcement and school officials pursuant to state law. To learn more about the Gold Star program, find more information at Safe2tell.org/gold-star-program/.
To make a report, individuals can call 1-877-542-7233 from anywhere, at any time. Reports also can be made at Safe2Tell.org, by texting S2TCO to 738477, or through the Safe2Tell mobile app which is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Click here for larger photo. Photo Caption: Attorney General Phil Weiser presents the Safe2Tell Gold Star recognition award to School Resource Officer Mike Couture and Stargate Charter School administration. Photo courtesy of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
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Media Contact:
Mallory Boyce
Communications Specialist
720-508-6787 (office) | 720-219-1898 (cell)
Mallory.Boyce@coag.gov