Who We Are

At School Crisis Consultants, we believe every student deserves a safe, supportive place to learn — and every educator deserves the tools and confidence to protect that environment.

Founded and led by Dr. Cora Palma, a seasoned professional in school safety, suicide prevention, crisis response, and school behavioral threat assessment, we specialize in helping school districts prevent, prepare for, and respond to crises with skill, care, and consistency.

As the principal consultant and founder of School Crisis Consultants, Dr. Palma brings years of experience working alongside educators, administrators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement. We understand the unique challenges schools face today — from identifying concerning behaviors early to managing high-stakes incidents in real time — and we translate complex best practices into clear, actionable steps your team can use immediately.

meet the FOUNDER

Dr. Cora Palma

Cora Palma is a Licensed Educational Psychologist, holds a Ph.D. in Education and School Psychology, and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of School Psychology at Loyola Marymount University. She is dedicated to helping schools build safer, more supportive learning environments through evidence-based practices in behavioral threat assessment, suicide prevention, and crisis response.

With more than 15 years of experience in K–12 education, Dr. Palma has served as a trusted resource for schools navigating complex situations involving student threats, suicide risk, and critical incidents. Since 2010, she has trained educators, administrators, and multidisciplinary teams in behavioral threat assessment and suicide prevention. In 2020, she became a certified Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) coach and trainer and has since coached dozens of schools and districts throughout California, helping them strengthen their prevention, assessment, intervention, and post-crisis response systems.

As both a school psychologist and a parent with children attending public schools in the very community she serves, Dr. Palma brings a deeply personal commitment to her work. She understands that every safety decision affects not only students and staff, but entire families and communities. Her mission is to equip schools with practical, research-informed systems that protect student well-being, prevent violence, and foster safe, connected, and supportive learning environments where every student can thrive.

Meet the Team

At School Crisis Consultants, we don’t just deliver services — we help schools build lasting capacity to keep students safe, supported, and ready to learn.

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Cynthia Olaya, ed.s.

PREPaRE TRAINER

Cynthia Olaya is a school psychologist with more than two decades of experience supporting students, schools, and communities. She has served in large urban districts and currently works in the Huntington Beach Union High School District. For 20 years, she also taught and mentored graduate students at Chapman University and California State University, Long Beach, preparing the next generation of school psychologists and school counselors. Her expertise includes school-based mental health, crisis preparedness and response, and fostering inclusive schools for LGBTQ+ students. Cynthia has partnered with schools across California to strengthen crisis-response systems and expand access to effective mental health services. Outside work, she enjoys staying active and spending time with her family and dog.

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Libby Kelly, Ed.s.

PREPARE TRAINER

With a career spanning nearly two decades in education, Libby Kelly is a dedicated leader in fostering safe and supportive learning environments. She began her journey with twelve foundational years as a School Psychologist in both a charter and a traditional district before stepping into her current role as a Special Education Administrator for the Irvine Unified School District. A recognized expert in crisis management, Libby has served as a PREPaRE trainer for 15 years, guiding schools and districts in developing robust safety plans. Her expertise is further demonstrated as a threat assessment trainer for The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) and by providing critical mental health support during active intruder drills. Beyond her district work, Libby has shared her knowledge with the next generation of educators as a graduate-level instructor at Chapman University. When she’s not championing student wellness, she enjoys photography and adventuring with her husband and two children.

LAUREN LOOMIS, LMFT, PPSC

trainer and consultant

Lauren Loomis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Credentialed School Counselor with 15 years of experience in K-12 education. Lauren's experience stems from 10 years as a mental health provider at school sites and 5 years of experience as a leader in a district setting, overseeing the training and program development of a large Mental Health Team. Lauren is a certified trainer in the CSTAG threat assessment model as well as PREPaRE Mental Health Crisis Response, and is well-versed in implementing both models across a district setting. Additionally, Lauren has several years of experience training mental health providers and administrators in Suicide Risk Prevention and Assessment, including building competency in using the C-SSRS (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale), clinically and legally documenting interventions, and effective safety planning. Outside of the work setting, Lauren is busy raising her two young kids in Northern California and enjoying time with friends and family.

We are more than trainers. We are partners.
Our mission is to:

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    Equip districts with evidence-based tools to prevent violence and self-harm.

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    Provide consultation when urgent decisions matter most.

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    Align policies and procedures so they are legally sound, and sustainable.

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  • School Crisis Consultants “are one of the most important resources a school district can have on their team. They are so knowledgeable in all aspects of the Mental Health department and the needs of school campuses during times of crisis. I would highly recommend them to any school agency looking to improve their site risk/threat assessments, and ensuring their staff are prepared to respond in a crisis.”

    - Kyle W, Program Manager of Student Services, Stockton