Teach to Talk™
Conversations Before Consequences
Interviewing to Protect, Support, and Understand
In today’s schools, where every decision carries weight, the ability to conduct effective interviews isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Whether you're in administration or human resources, the way you approach conversations directly influences student safety, staff support, and the fairness of your outcomes. Gathering clear, accurate information through thoughtful dialogue is the foundation for creating a school culture rooted in understanding, not just discipline.
Your conversations shape your culture.
In today’s educational environment, investigative interviewing isn’t just about fact-finding; it’s about protecting your students, supporting your staff, and making fair, informed decisions. Whether you're an administrator, HR professional, or school-based leader, the way you gather information during interviews directly influences the safety, trust, and integrity of your district.
This course is designed to meet the real-world challenges schools face every day.
You’ll learn advanced, evidence-based communication techniques to handle high-stakes situations, whether it’s a student-staff interaction, a Title IX concern, or a sensitive employee issue. Grounded in legal compliance and practical strategies, this training equips you to navigate complex cases with confidence, compassion, and clarity.
Why This Course Is Different
Most investigations in schools begin with suspicion and end with discipline. But the truth, and the solution, live in the conversation in between. This course equips educators with evidence-based interviewing techniques designed to uncover facts, clarify misunderstandings, and ensure all voices are heard. From handling misconduct to navigating Title IX reports or parent complaints, you’ll learn how to manage each situation with professionalism, empathy, and confidence.
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Key Skills You'll Gain
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Legal and Ethical Foundations: Learn the NYS laws that apply to student safety and employee conduct, including DASA, Title IX, FERPA, and the SAVE Act.
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Teach to Talk™: A communication philosophy built on trust, clarity, and strategic dialogue—because when it matters most, strategy beats a script.
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Bias & Cultural Awareness: Understand how culture and unconscious bias affect communication, and how to remain fair and objective.
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Trauma-Informed Interviewing: Speak to students and staff who have experienced trauma with compassion, while still obtaining reliable information.
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Interviewing with Purpose: Learn to build rapport, recognize signs of deception, and assess credibility without coercion.
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Scenario-Based Practice: Apply everything you’ve learned in realistic simulations led by an experienced investigator and educator.
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Course Formats
One-Day Course: Focused Learning for Busy Professionals
This streamlined session is ideal for school leaders who need a fast, effective foundation in investigative interviewing. Through focused lecture-style instruction, participants will gain a clear understanding of legal obligations, interview strategies, and key communication techniques, all designed to deliver immediate, real-world value.
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Two-Day Course: Interactive Practice with Real-World Application
This immersive format builds on the lecture content by incorporating interactive exercises and role-playing scenarios. Participants will practice conducting interviews, managing complex cases, and assessing credibility. The two-day course provides ample opportunities for personalized feedback, ensuring confidence and competence in applying these skills to real-world situations.
Course Topics​
Legal & Ethical Foundations
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Understanding DASA, Title IX, FERPA, and Mandated Reporting
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Complying with NYS Laws on Student & Employee Safety
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Documentation Standards and Legal Pitfalls
Core Interviewing Skills
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Principles of Investigative Interviewing in Schools
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Teach to Talk™
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Rapport Building with Students, Staff, and Parents
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Focused Note-Taking for Clarity and Compliance
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Roles and Responsibilities of a Second Interviewer
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Navigating the School-Based Interview Environment
Behavior & Credibility Assessment
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Interpreting Baseline Behavior and Deviation
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Rapid Personality Assessment for Educators
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Recognizing and Responding to Trauma
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Preventing Coercion and Misinformation
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Cultural Sensitivity and Implicit Bias in Interviews
Advanced Techniques
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Cognitive Interviewing with Students, Witnesses, and Staff
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Interviewing Students with Disabilities or Special Needs
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Strategic Use of Evidence to Elicit Detail and Clarify Stories
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Challenge & Clarify Techniques for Inconsistencies
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Managing Disruptive or Emotionally Elevated Interviewees
Crisis & Collaboration
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Crisis Communication During Active Investigations
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Coordinating with Law Enforcement and Child Services
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Handling Media and Public Information Requests
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Why Choose ASC?
We’re not here to deliver generic content. We teach educators how to conduct school-based interviews that lead to resolution, not regret. Founded by a retired senior investigator and national instructor, ASC’s training is rooted in real-world experience and built on science-backed methods. When school leaders need clarity, they come to us.
The Impact on Your District
When your staff is equipped to lead better conversations, your entire school community benefits. This course is more than professional development; it’s an investment in your district’s ability to respond to issues with clarity, fairness, and confidence. From minor conduct concerns to high-stakes investigations, participants leave with the tools to conduct thoughtful, lawful, and focused interviews that prioritize understanding over assigning consequences.
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By mastering strategic, research-based interviewing practices, your team will help create a safer, more inclusive learning environment—where every voice is heard, and facts, not assumptions, guide every decision.​​
Teach to Talk™: The Philosophy Behind Better Conversations
At Advanced Strategic Communications, Teach To Talk™ isn’t a technique; it’s a philosophy that shapes how we approach every conversation in school settings. From student interviews to staff investigations, we believe communication should never be scripted.
It should be strategic.
It should be respectful, purposeful, and guided by the needs of both the situation and the individuals involved.
Teach To Talk™ is built on a simple truth:
You don’t need a script.
You need a strategy.
For school leaders, human resource professionals, and administrators, that strategy matters. Whether you're addressing a sensitive staff concern, speaking with a student in crisis, or navigating a legally complex issue, how you communicate can shape the outcome and the relationship.
Teach To Talk™ helps you:
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Create conversations where students and staff feel safe, heard, and understood.
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Build trust while maintaining professionalism and accountability.
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Approach challenging topics with clarity, empathy, and confidence.
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Lead interviews that result in more accurate information and stronger outcomes.
Teach To Talk™ is not a technique.
It’s not a set of canned questions.
It’s a philosophy.
It’s a mindset.
It’s a strategic way to communicate that prioritizes truth, fairness, and understanding.
At Advanced Strategic Communications, we’re proud to be known as The Teach To Talk™ Company.
Because in every school conversation, what you say, and how you say it, can make all the difference.
Why Choose ASC over everyone else?
At ASC, we know that great training is more than just great content; it’s about who’s delivering it. We combine evidence-based practices with real-world experience to provide your team with practical tools they can use immediately, especially in the high-pressure situations that school leaders face every day.
We don’t teach theory, we teach what works.
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Why Trust Joseph Auriemma with Your Staff's Development?
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Experience That Translates to Education: With over 24 years in law enforcement, including 17 years in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Joe brings unmatched insight into how to conduct sensitive, high-stakes interviews. He has led complex investigations involving youth, staff, and community members, and understands the legal and emotional landscape that school administrators must navigate.
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A Teaching Style That Sticks: Nicknamed “The Joe Show” by past students, Joe’s engaging, down-to-earth teaching style keeps participants focused and invested. His sessions are dynamic and hands-on, ensuring your staff walks away with clarity, confidence, and practical know-how, not just a binder of notes.
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Custom Fit for Your Team: Joe doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all. With over a decade of instructional experience, he tailors every course to meet the specific needs of your district, its policies, and its staff, ensuring that personnel at every level receive exactly what they need to succeed.
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Credibility Through Real Cases: Joe has conducted thousands of interviews, from trauma-informed conversations to criminal interrogations. He’s not teaching from a script; he’s teaching from experience. That depth brings nuance, honesty, and real-world relevance to every training he leads.
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A Mentor, Not Just a Trainer: Joe’s reputation extends beyond instruction. He’s known for mentoring those he teaches, encouraging professionals to grow their skills and their confidence. Your staff won’t just be trained; they’ll be empowered.
Choose ASC for training where the instructor’s real-world experience matches the quality of the content. In a space where many courses are led by individuals with limited hands-on expertise, ASC stands out by delivering instruction grounded in practical knowledge and proven results. When the stakes are high, your team deserves training that’s as credible as it is impactful.