Missan Eido, a principal partner with Adennill, poses essential questions for school leaders:

• Is your school prepared?
• How do you know?
• Are you sure?

In today’s unpredictable world, the safety and security of students and faculty in schools have never been more critical. Eido emphasizes, “Every crisis is a human crisis. It is about building a culture of preparedness.”

Montessori schools, with their unique environments, often face distinct challenges when it comes to preparedness. Fortunately, the American Montessori Society (AMS) has partnered with Adennill, a consulting service that helps businesses and schools prepare for and respond to crises and disasters. Adennill provides the AMS community a comprehensive suite of resources to support member schools in navigating these challenges effectively.

Why Upleveling Matters

Emergency preparedness is a moving target. Preparedness is more than just having a plan in place; it is about creating a living, adaptable strategy that evolves with time and circumstances. As the world changes, so too must schools’ approaches to safety and security.

According to Eido, “a school that was well-prepared five years ago, may not be well-prepared today and may be at high risk within only a couple of years if they do not evaluate, test and improve their emergency response plan regularly.”

While many schools may have basic emergency plans in place, true preparedness requires ongoing attention, adaptation, and improvement.

Regularly reviewing and updating emergency preparedness plans allows schools to incorporate lessons learned from past incidents and implement best practices for responding to and managing emergencies. This goal of testing and training is to help improve response times and the overall effectiveness of emergency procedures.

Updating plans also provides schools with an opportunity to leverage new technologies such as communication systems, alert systems, and surveillance tools to improve their adverse events awareness and response capabilities in more cost-effective ways.

Practical Tips for Upleveling

Here are some practical tips to help your school uplevel its emergency preparedness and create a safer environment for everyone.

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Self-Assessment

Before making any changes, it is essential to understand where the school currently stands in terms of emergency preparedness. Conducting a self-assessment is a critical first step. This involves evaluating the school’s readiness across various dimensions, such as emergency planning, communication strategies, staff training, and facility security.

Create a checklist that covers key areas including evacuation procedures, lockdown drills, first aid readiness, and crisis communication plans. By identifying strengths and areas for improvement, efforts can be prioritized and resources can be allocated more effectively.

2. Customize Emergency Plans

One of the most common issues with emergency preparedness in schools is the prevalence of cut-and-paste preparedness plans. According to Eido, schools often compile plans from various online sources. While these plans can serve as a starting point, they are frequently not actionable and often fail to address the specific needs and circumstances of the school.

To create a tailored emergency preparedness plan, consider factors such as the layout of the buildings, the age group of the students, and the specific risks of the location (e.g. natural disasters, neighborhood safety). Ensure plans are actionable, providing clear instructions that are feasible in a real emergency.

3. Engage the Whole School Community

Emergency preparedness requires the involvement of the entire school community. Engage teachers, staff, parents, and even students in the planning process. Hold regular meetings to discuss emergency procedures, and make sure everyone understands their role in an emergency situation.

Training is key—conduct regular drills for different types of emergencies, and use these as opportunities to refine the school’s plans. After each drill, gather feedback to identify what went well and what needs improvement. Involving the community in these practices builds confidence and ensures everyone is prepared to act swiftly and effectively in an actual emergency.

4. Strengthen Communication Channels

In an emergency, clear and timely communication can save lives. Schools should establish multiple communication channels to ensure that information can be quickly disseminated to staff, students, and families.

Consider implementing a mass notification system that can send alerts via text, email, and voice messages. Ensure that all contact information is up-to-date and that the system is tested regularly. Additionally, develop a clear communication plan that outlines who is responsible for conveying information in an emergency and what messages need to be communicated.

Foster open communication with local emergency management officials, as well. Collaborate with them when developing emergency response plans and ensure they are aware of any changes or updates.

5. Focus on Mental Health and Emotional Preparedness

Emergencies can be traumatic, and the mental health of students, staff, and families should be a key consideration in upleveling preparedness efforts. Incorporate mental health support into the school’s emergency plans by training staff to recognize and respond to signs of trauma and anxiety.

Provide resources for students and staff to cope with the aftermath of an emergency, such as counseling services or peer support groups. Building emotional resilience within the school community is just as important as physical safety measures.

6. Secure the School Environment

Physical security is a critical component of emergency preparedness. Regularly conduct a thorough assessment of the school’s facilities to identify potential vulnerabilities. This includes evaluating entry points, locks, lighting, and visibility around the school grounds.

Implement measures such as controlled access to buildings, surveillance cameras, and secure locking systems. Periodically inspect and maintain these security features to ensure they are functioning correctly. Additionally, consider the school’s broader environment, including neighborhood safety and any nearby hazards, when planning security measures.

7. Create a Culture of Preparedness

Ultimately, the goal is to create a culture of preparedness within the school. This means fostering an environment where safety and security are prioritized every day, not just during drills or emergencies.

Encourage ongoing education about safety practices and keep preparedness top of mind by integrating it into school activities. For example, include safety topics in staff meetings, student assemblies, and newsletters. Making preparedness an integral part of the school’s culture ensures that everyone is always ready to respond effectively in an emergency.

Moving Forward: A Continuous Process

Upleveling a school’s emergency preparedness is an ongoing process that requires attention, collaboration, and commitment to continuous improvement. AMS and Adennill stand with member schools as partners, offering a set of complementary benefits to help them evolve a culture of preparedness for students, staff, and the school community.

Adennill also offers a set of services at a significantly reduced cost to help ensure preparedness and safety are attainable for small schools. From a 24/7 crisis hotline to detailed preparedness assessments, Adennill provides schools with the tools they need to customize their emergency plans, engage their community, and strengthen their physical and emotional security.

In the words of Eido, “Schools are important. Kids are important.” By taking advantage of the resources offered by AMS and Adennill, schools can ensure that they are doing everything possible to protect their students and staff as they continually assess and update their preparedness plans for effectiveness. Preparedness is not just about being ready for the worst; it is about creating a safe, secure, and supportive environment for the entire community.