Blog Archives

Safety, Schools and Preparation

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Most schools tell us safety is their #1 issue. Never has there been a more important concern in all schools than keeping kids safe. When we visit with safety officers and administrators it seems a large part of their plans involve using local law enforcement to assist. Dialing 9-1-1 is the standard.

The challenge for each of these organizations is that during a crisis that affects many buildings––like severe weather or a chemical spill––local emergency teams are greatly strained. Openly discussing these types of incidents with staff should be part of a total Emergency Response Plan (ERP). Doing so creates a greater awareness of the critical importance of having a safety action plan that is accessible, up-to-date, coordinated and responsive.

Why Naiku at TCEA was standing room only

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During the big TCEA conference in Texas, the team at Naiku had a pretty busy time. The usual conference preparation included staffing the booth, making sure basic equipment was set-up and the Internet was functioning well. Naiku has participated in lots of shows, but there was a 60-minute presentation that CEO Greg wasn’t sure what to expect. He was scheduled on the 3rd floor at noon—when a lot of folks are too busy or too tired to make the trek. But 1/2 before the discussion and presentation, people were showing up. By the 12:00 start, there was a line outside the door. Why all the fuss? Simply put, Naiku is an app whose time has come. It handles assessment for learning, is incredibly easy-to-use, accelerates student achievement––and has a best-in-class approach supported by the research of Dr John Hattie. If your school is not using Naiku, your students are missing out on learning.

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Safe Schools are no accident.

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Just ask Michele Gay, who experienced first-hand the tragedy at Sandy Hook. Michele’s Lunch and Learn webinar will be held on February 18th. The title is, “What Happens When Your Leaders Can’t Lead?” This is in reference to the Sandy Hook Elementary School emergency plan, but the people who were in charge of leading that plan were either killed or wounded. Michele a co-founder of the Safe Schools Foundation. If you’d like to see her comments, click here.

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Schools and Bullying

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In a 2011 report from NCES, 20% of high school students were bullied at school and 33% reported being involved in a physical fight in the school. This alarming trend has forced state and national teams to look closely at the impact of school safety, learning and overall health of schools.