|
LEAD to Promote
Multi-Hazard School Safety Training |
| Most people would agree the
schools in North Dakota are safe places for kids to be. In order to help
keep it that way, the LEAD Center has teamed up with ND Emergency
Management and several other state and local government agencies and
professional organizations to carry out a project that will help schools
and communities improve their plans for responding to emergencies and
catastrophic events. |
| Although every school in
North Dakota has a Safety Plan, research suggests several common
problems with these plans: 1) Schools often develop their plans in
isolation from the emergency response community. Good communication is
vital during any emergency, so planning in isolation almost guarantees
there will be communication problems in the event of a real emergency,
2) Emergency plans often are vague (responsibilities not clearly
defined), school personnel often are not aware of or do not understand
the plans, and they are rarely practiced. In such cases there is little
difference between a good plan and no plan at all, 3) Emergency plans
seldom include plans for recovery and the long-term psychological
effects of a school tragedy are sometimes greater than they need to be. |
| The major goal of this
project is to offer training and assistance to school districts seeking
to improve their emergency response plans. The first step was two
train-the-trainer classes in August involving school personnel
(administrators, counselors, and teachers) and community emergency
responders (law enforcement, fire, medical, emergency managers, etc.)
from across the state. During these sessions, participants experienced
the training to be replicated in the field (approximately 12 hours)
along with tips for facilitation. |
| During the 2000-01 school
year, teams of people trained this summer will offer training sessions
at various locations across the state. At these events, teams will learn
the latest strategies and proven principles in emergency response
planning. The major segments include: 1) Identifying and Mitigating
Hazards, 2) Planning to Respond, 3) Coping with Disasters, 4)
Implementing and Evaluating Emergency Response Plans, 5) Planning to
Recover, and 6) Linking to the Larger Community. Watch for more details
about the training in your area. |
|
Principal Academy Added to
LEAD Curriculum |
| The LEAD Center is gearing
up to offer a series of seminars on topics that meet the professional
development needs of principals in a changing school environment. Each
seminar focuses on a specific set of skills or competencies; however,
all the seminars are interrelated. Participants may choose from one or a
combination of seminars depending or their needs and interests. Seminars
will range from eight to twelve hours and participants who complete two
or more of the seminars may earn graduate credit. |
| Each Academy topic has a
skill development focus based on a specific knowledge base and certain
key behaviors. Participants begin each seminar by taking a Behavior
Inventory, which helps them examine their attitudes and beliefs. Both
knowledge acquisition and skill development is emphasized through
discussing issues, examining case studies, and practice applying skills
through simulations and role-plays. Forming a network with other
participants and the trainer(s) will be another key component of the
Academy. |
| The LEAD Center plans to
work with the principal’s organizations to bring the Academy to any of
the respective regions wishing to expand the professional development
options for principals. |
| Presently, four Academy
courses are available: 1) The Principal, Politics, and the Community, 2)
Conflict Analysis and Conflict Resolution, 3) The Leadership Edge, and
4) Seeking and Analyzing: Problem Analysis Skills for Principals. Plans
are to add additional courses in 2001-02 including: The Principal as
Ethical Leader; Judgment: Quality Application of Quality Information;
The Principal’s Primer on Stress Management; and The Sensitive Leader. |
