WACO, Texas (KWTX) - More than 30 school counselors representing school districts across Texas gathered in Waco on Tuesday to begin intensive training for a new regional crisis response network.

The training, held at the Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12, marks the rollout of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Crisis Recovery Network in Texas.

The initiative, which began forming a year ago, aims to build a specialized team of first-responder counselors capable of deploying to schools following natural or man-made disasters."We cover 16 states from Texas to Delaware," said Linda Tyree of the SREB.