School psychologists are often the first professionals to reach students with mental illness, and part of their role is to help identify threats that can lead to events such as the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., which left 20 children and six adults dead, including school psychologist Mary Sherlach, who was one of the first responders. But as district budgets are cut and school psychologists retire, their difficult and crucial role working with troubled students may be endangered. School psychologists are now trained for events including natural disasters, accidents, suicide, and aggressive violence. This training also includes looking for risk factors and warning signs that students might be a danger to themselves or others, and is critical to the safety of the school. However, a national shortage of school psychologists and funding issues may prevent them from reaching students in need.