Safety & Security Artifacts

If students feel unsafe or threatened in their classroom environment, we simply cannot expect any learning to occur.  Therefore, above anything else, safety and security is a top priority within our schools.  This really hit home for me, when I had the opportunity to be the summer school coordinator.  Leading into the experience, there were so aspects of the day I was worried about (schedules, instruction, student engagement, parent concerns, etc).  However, the night before school started, the biggest worry running through my mind was:  I need everyone to make it safely home at the end of the day.  As a new school leader, and also as a new parent, I understand this now better than ever.  At the end of the day, parents want to know that their children are safe and well cared for.  

I am thankful for the experiences I have had, helping facilitate lockdown drills and fire drills throughout my field experience.  Again, reflecting on the student management class, role playing emergency scenarios was also beneficial in my experience.  However, one situation that stands out involved a real scenario with a suspicious individual on our school grounds.  Although I was not directly involved in this incident, I appreciate that our principal took time to send a followup email detailing the situation.  In his email, he highlighted all the key players involved in the emergency response, highlighting what they did to respond in the moment.  As a staff member, it helped me think about my own response in a similar situation, so that I feel more prepared and confident in the future. 

As I have reflected on other competency areas, I can see how the various aspects of leadership overlap and support safety/security structures within a school.  For example, in emergency situations, it is crucial to have effective judgment and problem solving skills.  Additionally, without effective communication structures in place, you will not be able to respond quickly and effectively during a crisis situation.  Without clear school policies and equitable classroom practices in place, students may feel threatened or unsafe in their learning environments.  Nearly every other aspect of leadership provides the foundation necessary to create safe schools for all students.