Developing an emergency management plan is an important milestone — but it’s only the beginning. The real challenge lies in turning that plan into a living, actionable program that prepares staff, students, and community partners to respond effectively when an incident occurs.

In this webinar, Kristen Devitt, M.Ed., Director of Campus Safety at Oak Park & River Forest High School, will share practical strategies for moving beyond compliance to build a resilient school safety program.

Drawing from real-world experience in K-12 education, Devitt will discuss how schools can strengthen preparedness through training, exercises, stakeholder collaboration, and continuous plan evaluation. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to improve readiness, identify gaps before an emergency occurs, and foster a culture of safety across their campuses.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the key steps for transforming an emergency management plan into an active, sustainable preparedness program.
2. Evaluate best practices for training faculty, staff, students, and community partners to support a coordinated emergency response.
3. Evaluate and refine emergency management plans using tabletop exercises, drills, after-action reviews, and continuous improvement practices.
4. Develop strategies for fostering a culture of preparedness that strengthens organizational resilience before, during, and after an emergency.