When I ask many school administrators if they are working with their county emergency management agency on their school crisis planning, I often get a common response: “Who? What do they do?” We also like to ask school transportation directors if their district’s school buses are part of the county emergency management agency’s plan for mass […]
Blog Archives
School Athletic Event Security: Are You Prepared?
High school basketball game rivalries used to be fun and safe for students, parents, and other spectators. Most of them still are safe and enjoyable today. But many of today’s school athletic event games also require a new level of security planning by school administrators and safety officials. In the latest of video-captured basketball game […]
School Crisis: Chaos or Communication?
The news headline: “Adults’ missteps detailed in S. Phila. High violence” The story goes on to read: “On Dec. 3, as Asian students endured a daylong series of attacks at South Philadelphia High, the adults responsible for their safety were often confused or unsure how to respond. The principal ordered a midmorning lockdown – designed […]
School Safety Leader: Asia Jones
You would not expect to find a school administrator responsible for the challenging areas of school safety, student health, discipline, truancy prevention/intervention, and alternative education to be smiling and upbeat every day. Of course, it is also not every day you meet someone like Asia Jones. Asia is the Executive Director for Student Services in Roanoke City Public […]
Bad Things Happen to Good Schools
When we hear of a school shooting or other high-profile school safety incident, it is normal for people to look to see what the school could have done to prevent it from occurring. But there is also a more subtle tendency in some people to believe there must be “something wrong” with the victimized school. […]
Do You Know What Drives Your Decisions in a School Crisis?
The principal of a large high school candidly described to us her thinking process when she responded in two very different ways to two very similar emergency situations in the same week: “Cognitively, I knew what I should do, but emotionally…” In my 25-years helping educators gain peace of mind and control over their school safety […]
Who is in Charge When an Emergency Hits Your School?
In the education community, we like to make decisions through committees and with consensus. But there is no time to form a committee when you have an irate parent threatening in the main office or when an active shooter is in the school. Principals need to have a solid chain-of-command in their school emergency plans. […]
People Must Be Behind School Security Equipment
In our recent visits to schools while conducting emergency preparedness assessments, we have noticed a number of physical security designs and school security equipment being circumvented by some of the very people for whom these items were put in to protect: The school staff. Similar circumstances have been highlighted in I-Team news stories when reporters went into […]
Social Media Advice for School Administrators
Twitter. Facebook. Blogs. Social media is just about everywhere – except in the comfort zone of the majority of school administrators and teachers. I see social media having both proactive and reactive roles in school safety and crisis response. This, of course, first requires educators to overcome their fear of the new forms of communication. My […]
Twenty Four School Safety Items Administrators are Hiding from Parents
In my school security and emergency planning workshops, I frequently ask school administrators, School Resource Officers (SROs), and others to name one positive thing they are doing in their schools which contributes to school safety. This item can fall under prevention, security, and/or preparedness. Those who volunteer have about 10 seconds each to name their practice. […]