School district leaders are now, more than ever, reaching out to their parent communities in new and powerful ways. Communication is especially critical when districts are faced with a crisis- whether a school is under lockdown due to violence, involved in a natural disaster, or dealing with suspicious behavior and unwanted press - families must know what steps to take to ensure safety for all. What strategies work best when trying to connect with parents who need to know how to respond in a crisis affecting their school? What tools work best when timeliness is important? What plans must be in place to communicate quickly and effectively with the parent community?

The participants of this Virtual Round Table on June 26, 2008, learned answers to those exact questions.  The following three school district leaders shared their success stories.

Passing the Crisis Communication Test:   Think Local When National Media Arrives:
What would you do if the network news descended on one of your schools to cover a classroom incident? Attendees learned how one school district handled a media frenzy and kept their community calm and informed.
Presenter: Tustin Amole, Public Information Officer
Cherry Creek School District, CO

Getting the Word Out: Using your Best Communication Tools:

Districts must know in advance the most efficient and quickest ways to reach the school community in times of crisis. Candice Alfinger taught how her district uses multiple ways to inform the public.
Candice Ahlfinger, Associate Superintendent for Communications and Community Relations
Pasadena School District, TX#3

When Schoolyards Aren't Safe: Planning for Alternatives:
In some crises, the last place you want hundreds of parents to be is the first place they think of going - their child's school. Hear how one district created alternative locations for connecting with parents and how they communicated their plan.
Diana Greene, Deputy Superintendent
Marion County Public School, FL

Note: Watch this entire presentation online!
*First Time Viewers- Register for the event, come back to THIS page, and view it as a Registered Viewer. Register!
*Registered Viewers- If you want to view the webinar again, simply Click Here to Watch!
 

...Go Back