REMS on the Air Podcast

Emergency Preparedness for Afterschool Programs

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2129424/open_sms] The REMS TA Center joins with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC) for a collaborative episode on emergency considerations for afterschool and out-of-school time programs. Special guest Miguel Garcia (Forth Worth Independent School District, Texas) covers the ins and outs of afterschool considerations, including the following: * What is NTAC, and what does it do? * What is the difference between vendor-based and site-based afterschool programs? * What are the differences in emergency planning during school hours and afterschool hours? * How can local education agencies and schools work together to monitor hazards and threats particular to afterschool programs? * What unique considerations do afterschool programs have for emergency operations plan development? Transcript [https://rems.ed.gov/docs/transcripts/Episode33EmergencyPreparednessForAfterSchoolPrograms508.pdf] REMS TA Center Resources Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans [https://rems.ed.gov/docs/School_Guide_508C.pdf] (Guidance Document) Using a Six-Step Planning Process and Scenario-Based Planning to Support Emergency Operations Plan Development [https://rems.ed.gov/Resources/Specific?Topic=EOPDevelopment] (Web Page) Other Resources 21st CCLC NTAC [https://21stcclcntac.org/] (Web Page) Join the Conversation Use the #REMSontheAir hashtag and engage in a post-episode discussion on X (formerly Twitter). To ensure that the #REMSontheAir podcast serves your needs * Send us topic ideas. * Propose experts and other key stakeholders in the field to feature. * Send us follow-up questions and/or comments on information shared within each episode or related to a specific series. Send us an email with #REMSontheAir in the subject line; tag @remstacenter [https://twitter.com/remstacenter] in a post via X; or call our toll-free phone number at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] to share your ideas, requests, and questions.

Reframing Cybersecurity Expectations: The Role of School Board Members

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2129424/open_sms] Dr. Timothy Tillman (Chesterfield County Public Schools, Virginia) rejoins the REMS TA Center for a discussion about the important role that school boards have in developing and improving K-12 cybersecurity postures. “Letting information technology (IT) team handle it” is no longer enough; school boards can lead by understanding what their IT teams need and providing a road map for improvement.  This episode explores the following questions:  * How do we need to reframe our philosophies regarding the relationships between IT teams, school boards, and K-12 cybersecurity?  * What is the role of a school’s IT department in helping create and maintain a strong K-12 cybersecurity posture?  * What is the role of the school board in helping create and maintain a strong K-12 cybersecurity posture?  * What are “outside vendor risks” and what responsibilities should school boards take to address them?  * How can school boards and communities grow from where they are now to where they need to be to protect schools most effectively?  Transcript [https://rems.ed.gov/docs/transcripts/Episode32ReframingExpectationsTheRoleOfSchoolBoardMembersInK-12Cybersecurity508.pdf] REMS TA Center Resources   Cybersecurity Considerations for K-12 Schools and School Districts [https://rems.ed.gov/trainings/CoursesHome.aspx] (Online Course)  Cybersecurity Preparedness for K-12 Schools and Institutions of Higher Education [https://rems.ed.gov/Cyber%22%20/t%20%22_blank] (Web Page)   Cyber Safety for K-12 Schools and School Districts [https://rems.ed.gov/cybersafety] (Web Page)   Live Trainings by Request [https://rems.ed.gov/TA_TrainingsByRequest.aspx] (Web Page)  Understanding the Role of Information Technology Specialists in Supporting School Safety Before, During, and After an Emergency [https://rems.ed.gov/webinardetail?id=53] (Webinar)  Join the Conversation Use the #REMSontheAir hashtag and engage in a post-episode discussion on X (formerly Twitter). To ensure that the #REMSontheAir podcast serves your needs * Send us topic ideas. * Propose experts and other key stakeholders in the field to feature. * Send us follow-up questions and/or comments on information shared within each episode or related to a specific series. Send us an email with #REMSontheAir in the subject line; tag @remstacenter [https://twitter.com/remstacenter] in a post via X; or call our toll-free phone number at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] to share your ideas, requests, and questions.

From the Outside In: The Role of Technology in School Emergency Operations Plans

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2129424/open_sms] The REMS TA Center interviews Carlton Gerald (Alexandria Public Schools, Virginia) for his take on the important relationship between technology and K-12 emergency management planning. In addition to providing general information about the school technology landscape, Gerald offers suggestions for choosing technologies as well as for avoiding over reliance on technology.   This episode engages questions such as  * What is an “outside in” approach to emergency preparedness?   * Where and how should schools rely on technology in their planning?  * How can schools know which technologies to use and purchase?  * What common pitfalls with technology do schools tend to fall into, and how can these be avoided?  * What does it mean to be a good steward of technology?  Transcript [https://rems.ed.gov/docs/transcripts/Episode31FromTheOutsideInTheRoleOfTechInSchoolEmergencyOperationsPlans508.pdf] REMS TA Center Resources  EOP Interactive Tools [https://rems.ed.gov/EOPinteractivetools.aspx] (Web Page)  Cybersecurity Preparedness for K-12 Schools and Institutions of Higher Education [https://rems.ed.gov/Cyber] (Web Page)  Online Courses [https://rems.ed.gov/trainings/CoursesHome.aspx] (Web Page)  Understanding the Role of Information Technology Specialists in Supporting School Safety Before, During, and After an Emergency [https://rems.ed.gov/webinardetail?id=53] (Webinar)  Join the Conversation Use the #REMSontheAir hashtag and engage in a post-episode discussion on X (formerly Twitter). To ensure that the #REMSontheAir podcast serves your needs * Send us topic ideas. * Propose experts and other key stakeholders in the field to feature. * Send us follow-up questions and/or comments on information shared within each episode or related to a specific series. Send us an email with #REMSontheAir in the subject line; tag @remstacenter [https://twitter.com/remstacenter] in a post via X; or call our toll-free phone number at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] to share your ideas, requests, and questions.

First Steps to Improve Your School’s Cybersecurity Posture

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2129424/open_sms] The REMS TA Center explores immediate action steps core planning teams can take to protect their school from cyberattacks. Selected interview snippets from subject matter experts Ray Girdler (Arkansas Department of Education), Julia Fallon (State Educational Technology Directors Association), and Doug Levin (K12 Security Information eXchange) provide deeper insights into this topic. This episode answers the following questions:  * What baseline cyber protections should schools implement if they don’t know where to start?  * How can schools avoid getting bogged down in technical jargon?  * Why is an audit important for improving cybersecurity?  * How can self-assessments support cyber protection measures?  * What role does information-sharing play in helping schools improve their cybersecurity posture?  Transcript [https://rems.ed.gov/docs/transcripts/Episode30FirstStepsToImproveYourSchoolsCybersecurityPosture508.pdf] REMS TA Center Resources  Cybersecurity Considerations for K-12 Schools and School Districts [https://rems.ed.gov/trainings/CourseCybersecurity.aspx] (Online Course)   Cybersecurity for K-12 Schools and School Districts: Developing a Cyber Annex [https://rems.ed.gov/docs/K12CybersecurityFactSheet_508c.pdf] (Fact Sheet)   Cybersecurity Preparedness for Schools and Institutions of Higher Education [https://rems.ed.gov/Cyber] (Web Page)  Emergency Exercises Training Package [https://rems.ed.gov/TrainingPackage.aspx] (Training Package)  School EOPs In-Depth: Developing a COOP Annex [https://rems.ed.gov/trainings/CourseCOOP.aspx] (Online Course)  Join the Conversation Use the #REMSontheAir hashtag and engage in a post-episode discussion on X (formerly Twitter). To ensure that the #REMSontheAir podcast serves your needs * Send us topic ideas. * Propose experts and other key stakeholders in the field to feature. * Send us follow-up questions and/or comments on information shared within each episode or related to a specific series. Send us an email with #REMSontheAir in the subject line; tag @remstacenter [https://twitter.com/remstacenter] in a post via X; or call our toll-free phone number at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] to share your ideas, requests, and questions.

School Emergency Success Stories: District of Columbia’s Behavioral Threat Assessment

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2129424/open_sms] Join the REMS TA Center for an exciting episode in which Whytley Jones (District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Risk Management Agency [DC HSEMA]) shares a school behavioral threat assessment success story. Whytley explains how collaboration, integral to DC HSEMA’s founding, is a key factor in helping public schools, private schools, and institutions of higher education (IHEs) prevent behavioral emergency incidents. This episode explores * What is DC HSEMA, and how does it partner with schools and IHEs to implement threat assessments? * How did DC HSEMA employ referral, intervention, and follow-up to provide support for a person of concern? * What steps can schools take to form collaborative partnerships that foster successful outcomes? * How does a multidisciplinary approach benefit school emergency operations plans? * Why is training so important for school safety? Transcript [https://rems.ed.gov/docs/transcripts/Episode29SchoolEmergencySuccessStoriesDistrictOfColumbiasBehavioralThreatAssessment508.pdf] REMS TA Center Resources Collaboration and Community Partnerships: Strategies for Effective School and Higher Ed Emergency Operations Plan Development [https://rems.ed.gov/docs/CollaborationFactSheet_508C.pdf] (Fact Sheet) Forming a School Behavioral Threat Assessment Team [https://rems.ed.gov/webinardetail?id=26] (Webinar) Other Resources Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency [https://hsema.dc.gov/], DC HSEMA, (Website) Protect DC [https://protect.dc.gov/], Government of the District of Columbia (Web Page) SchoolSafety.Gov [https://www.schoolsafety.gov], SchoolSafety.Gov (Web Page) Join the Conversation Use the #REMSontheAir hashtag and engage in a post-episode discussion on X (formerly Twitter). To ensure that the #REMSontheAir podcast serves your needs * Send us topic ideas. * Propose experts and other key stakeholders in the field to feature. * Send us follow-up questions and/or comments on information shared within each episode or related to a specific series. Send us an email with #REMSontheAir in the subject line; tag @remstacenter [https://twitter.com/remstacenter] in a post via X; or call our toll-free phone number at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] to share your ideas, requests, and questions.