In an era of multiple complex crises, every K-12 school needs a team that’s fully prepared to take immediate action after traumatic events, deaths, and other major losses. This practical planning guide empowers school administrators and leaders to build, train, and sustain highly effective school crisis teams.
Developed by an author team with decades of experience—including David Schonfeld, the country’s go-to authority on responding to school crisis—this urgently needed book wraps everything leaders need to know and do into one accessible, comprehensive package. Readers will get critical information on the need for school crisis preparedness, the nuts and bolts of establishing and strengthening efficient crisis teams, and best practices and strategies for responding to different types of school crisis.
A school leader’s ultimate guide to proactive preparation, this book will help new and existing crisis teams respond quickly after traumatic events and loss and ensure the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of students, staff, and the community.
LEARN HOW TO:
Apply seven guiding principles for building a strong school crisis team and crisis response plan
Implement the authors’ effective school crisis response model used in thousands of schools nationwide
Reduce the negative impacts of crisis events and support healing and recovery
Establish and train a crisis team that’s equipped to respond at any time
Use an adaptable checklist of actions for your team to take after a crisis
Design and implement tabletop exercises and drills that will strengthen preparedness without overwhelming participants
Make appropriate decisions about memorialization and commemoration
Provide effective staff support and professional self-care in the aftermath of a crisis involving traumatic exposure and deaths
About the Online Materials
About the Authors
Foreword
Preface
About the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
Introduction: Prepare Your Schools for Anything
Chapter 1: The Need for School Crisis Preparedness
Chapter 2: Guiding Principles and Key Concepts
Chapter 3: The Crisis Team Model
Chapter 4: Distinguishing Between Grief and Trauma
Chapter 5: Establishing and Training Crisis Teams
Chapter 6: Live Crisis Drills
Chapter 7: Implementing the Crisis Response Plan
Chapter 8: Crisis Response After a Suicide
Chapter 9: Commemoration and Memorialization
Chapter 10: Organizational Support for School Professionals and Professional Self-Care
Appendix A: Tabletop Exercise Materials
Appendix B: Notification Templates
Appendix C: Support Materials for Schools, Staff, and Parents/Guardians
