About ETJ Consulting
Why was ETJ established?
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The field of school safety is rich with knowledgeable professionals and organizations offering keynote presentations, specialized trainings, evidence-based models, and advanced technology solutions. While these resources are foundational and vital, they often focus on declarative knowledge—what to do and why it matters. At ETJ Consulting, we go a step further by bringing procedural knowledge grounded in years of hands-on experience—how to do it, and how to make it last.
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Far too often, school and organizational leaders invest in training or technology only to find themselves overwhelmed by the complexity of implementation once they're back in their day-to-day roles. They discover that translating new knowledge into sustainable practice requires more time, technical skill, and support than anticipated.
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That’s where ETJ Consulting comes in. We exist to close this critical gap. Our mission is to not only provide expert guidance but to stand alongside our clients—working collaboratively with leadership teams, embedding ourselves in the process, and taking ownership of both execution and long-term sustainability. In short, we don’t just advise—we help build capacity, implement solutions, and ensure they endure.​​​​​
​​​​​What does ETJ stand for?
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ETJ stands for "Enjoy the Journey."
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This phrase took on profound meaning for our founder, Curtis, in the years following the loss of his sister. During that time, his mother would close every card and letter to him with these three simple words. Over time, they became more than a comforting sign-off—they became a guiding principle.
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Today, "Enjoy the Journey" serves as both a personal mantra for Curtis and a core value that shapes the work of ETJ Consulting. It’s a daily reminder to find purpose, even joy, in the process of building something meaningful—both in business and in service to others.​
We recognize that the issues we address—school safety, mental health, and systems-level resilience—are deeply complex and emotionally weighty. The challenges are real, and the barriers can feel daunting. But when we are grounded in a clear and compelling "why," we can approach this work with hope, compassion, and a sense of fulfillment.
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At ETJ Consulting, we believe that the journey toward safer, more connected communities is not only worth taking—but worth embracing.
Professional Experience
Curtis Herring, M.Ed., has provided technical assistance related to implementation of Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) on a national scale; supporting local, regional, and state education agencies in their implementation of evidence-based violence prevention strategies. He has provided technical assistance across 14 states and supported over 80 school districts ranging in size and demographic. As part of this work, he has created and delivered a variety of trainings to school district leadership and staff. He is a frequent presenter at industry conferences and has experience delivering engaging workshops.​​​​
He is a certified school counselor in the state of Texas and as a high school counselor gained firsthand experience conducting behavioral threat assessments and designing intervention plans. His work also included several notable projects such as the creation of a campus mindfulness room, development of a campus-based mentorship program, and the institution of school counseling data collection and analysis methods. Curtis has first hand experience pushing for innovation and school counseling program development while maintaining a caseload of 500+ students.
He served as the Director of Counseling and Student Support for a school district in Texas, where he oversaw certified school counselors, licensed social workers, and licensed professional counselors at 34 campuses (EC-12), leading the continual development of a robust school based mental health framework and comprehensive school counseling program. In this role, he led the district level BTA team in designing in-depth case management plans for students, directed the district critical incident response team, and conducted regular professional development and coaching for campus level staff in areas of mental health as it relates to school safety and achievement, BTA, social emotional learning, and school climate, among other topics.​​
​​In these roles, he also developed high levels of proficiency in areas of academic counseling, such as college and career readiness, course planning, master scheduling, and more. Additionally, he has functioned as a UX consultant with several Ed Tech companies.
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Curtis recognizes the applicability of his knowledge and skills to other industries that also experience concerns around comprehensive safety strategies such as corporates workplaces, higher education, and faith based organizations.
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