LANSING. The Michigan State Police (MSP) is offering its Teaching, Educating, and Mentoring (T.E.A.M.) School Liaison Training to law enforcement officers. Three, five-day training sessions will be held at the MSP Training Academy on February 27-March 2, May 21-25, and September 17-21.

"With January being declared as Michigan Mentoring Month by Governor Snyder, now is the perfect time for law enforcement officers to sign-up to become a T.E.A.M.-certified school liaison officer," said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP. "T.E.A.M. is a nationally-recognized program that helps to make schools and communities safer and to promote responsible citizenship and positive character traits among youth."

Officers attending this training will learn essential information about school security issues, school violence, bullying, classroom management, public speaking, school and community relations and personal safety issues. Upon completion of the training, all participants will receive the full T.E.A.M. curriculum, presentation materials and related classroom presentation aids.

The class is approved by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). The training is free, but there is a $150 cost for meals. To register, contact Ms. Jo Klotz at (517) 322-6319.

T.E.A.M. was developed by the MSP in 1998 to provide students with a thorough understanding of laws and their responsibility as citizens to obey laws. There are approximately 700 T.E.A.M.-trained officers in the state.

Governor Rick Snyder has declared January as Michigan Mentoring Month, recognizing the powerful impact personal connections can have on the lives of young Michiganders. For more information about the value of mentoring and how and where to help, visit www.michigan.gov/mentormichigan.