The Power of Preparation: Lessons from a Critical Incident

 

This episode of the School Safety Today podcast, by Raptor Technologies, features an in-depth discussion with Dr. David Diehl, Director of Student and Community Services at Selma Unified School District (CA), about the critical role of preparation in ensuring school safety. Dr. Diehl shares his experiences, including a pivotal crisis incident, and emphasizes how proper planning, technology, and a culture of safety can mitigate risks and enhance crisis responses in schools.

KEY POINTS:

  • A well-executed reunification process is critical for the safe return of students to their guardians in crises, reducing the potential for miscommunication or harm.
  • Detailed, actionable emergency plans tailored to specific scenarios are essential. They should include realistic drills and role-specific responsibilities for staff.
  • Using technology to streamline crisis management through providing real-time student accountability, ensuring efficient communication and deployment of resources during emergencies.

Our guest, Dr. David Diehl, is the Director of Student and Community Services for the Selma Unified School District (CA). He was previously a Coordinator of MTSS and an Assistant Principal for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. Before entering education, he retired as a police sergeant after 24 years in law enforcement. Dr. Diehl’s Doctoral research was inspired by the 21 students he lost to gang-related homicides while teaching in a Central California court school. He has worked extensively with system-involved youth in court schools, community day schools, and alternative education settings. A sought-after speaker and published author, Dr. Diehl is a proponent of data-informed interventions prior to 6th grade, along with providing educators with increased awareness into the lives of street-socialized students from marginalized communities. He believes this approach can improve student engagement, increase resilience, and impede future incarceration.

Recent Episodes

Did you know? According to the National Education Association, by 2025, 1 out of every 4 children in classrooms across the US will be a new English Language Learner, Multilingual or Bilingual student. New students arriving in the US are usually called newcomers in a school setting. The term ‘newcomers’ is defined as K-12 students born…

My Journey Becoming a Multilingual Teacher – And How it Can Help Your Teaching Outcomes Before becoming an ESL teacher, I taught mainstream education – from preschool age to college level. I was lucky to teach Social Studies, Language Arts, Math, Reading, and Science. I taught at the elementary school level for many years and…

Effective teachers need to get more credit for the work they do. They are the architects of our future, shaping the minds and characters of the next generation. They dedicate countless hours to their craft – imparting knowledge, nurturing curiosity, building resilience, and teaching students how to think critically. And, there are a lot of great…