Empowering School Safety: A Collaborative Approach to Training Specialists

Creating a safe and nurturing environment in schools is paramount to ensuring the well-being of students. The National Heritage Academies (NHA) understands this well, marking their 10th anniversary of the Safety Specialist program. This initiative aims to foster a culture of safety and preparedness across its network of 100 partner schools.

When children feel secure, they flourish both academically and socially. Recognizing this crucial aspect, NHA emphasizes a comprehensive safety framework that ensures compliance and promotes proactive strategies supporting mental and physical health. As Brian Gard, NHA's Director of Safety and Health, states, "We have always promoted a mindset that safety is everyone's responsibility." This ethos encapsulates the essence of their program—a community-oriented approach.

Throughout the year, safety specialists from multiple NHA schools engage in continuous training, learning innovative techniques to protect their students and staff. For instance, a recent regional training took place in Louisiana, welcoming participants from four different schools. This interactive format encourages specialists to share the unique challenges their institutions face, thereby enabling mutual learning and preparation for potential crises.

Gard expands on the importance of collaboration, saying, "By connecting these safety specialists with each other, and with our safety team, we are empowering them with the tools to make smart and timely decisions at our schools." This training includes staff from various roles including deans, office administrators, and paraprofessionals, all united by a common goal—to ensure their school environments are safe havens.

One notable duo, Executive Principal Damon Williams and Registrar Elaine Best from Great Oaks Academy, exemplify the rigorous efforts put into safety measures. Williams praises Best as the backbone of their safety operations. "Elaine keeps track of the necessary timelines regarding drills throughout the school year and documenting the outcomes. She also coordinates with teachers before the start of the year," he explains.

Best echoes Williams’ sentiments, highlighting the supportive leadership from NHA that equips their schools with essential resources and training. She believes that thorough preparations and intentional drills help instill a profound understanding of safety protocols among students and families. "When our training and drills are intentional, it helps people understand the importance of it," she says, underscoring the seriousness of their safety commitments.

Recently, NHA Safety and Security Specialist Mike White led part of the training in Louisiana, focusing on trauma-informed drills. He stresses the need for teachers to be adequately prepared to guide and inform students during drills, thus helping to mitigate anxiety around safety practices. White pointed out the significance of age-appropriate information that educators pass on to their classrooms.

The collaborative learning approach also featured prominent presentations by effective leaders within the NHA network. One standout moment was provided by Kristin Sanney, Dean at Metro Charter Academy, whose insights on developing customized support plans for students needing extra assistance resonated widely with attendees. Sanney's focus on teamwork and proactive planning serves as a reminder that preparing for emergencies is best done when everyone is cohesively aligned.

Furthermore, the training involved scenario-based instruction, allowing safety specialists to practice responding to various crises. White elaborates on the vital role of continuous improvement in safety measures, noting that prioritizing the safety of students is essential—"If the school environment isn't safe, kids can't learn, and that's true for the physical environment, the educational environment, and the social environment."

As NHA continues to develop and iterate on their safety programs, their commitment to fostering a safe educational environment for over 68,000 students in nine states remains strong. The ongoing training ensures that all staff are not only informed but also prepared to handle emergencies effectively and efficiently.

For further inquiries, interested parents can find more about NHA and locate a participating school via their website, continuing the mission to provide a safe and empowering learning environment for every student.