Jessica Jacobs is a Trauma Specialist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools where she leads district-wide initiatives in crisis prevention, response, and recovery. She trains staff in completing suicide and threat assessments, consults as an expert on these topics, and supports schools during critical incidents. Jessica also provides training on trauma-informed practices and spearheads major mental health initiatives, including the expansion of suicide prevention programming and the implementation of the Sources of Strength program. A National Board Certified Teacher in School Counseling, Jessica began her career as a school counselor at a Title I middle school, where she served as lead crisis counselor and school-based mental health liaison. Her leadership in piloting the Signs of Suicide program led to a significant decrease in high-risk assessments. Jessica earned both her M.Ed. in School Counseling and her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Biology, with a minor in Education, from UNC Chapel Hill. She is passionate about equitable education and uses research and data to drive effective, student-centered programming.