For this episode of Tuesday Tips, Jean Shields Fleming joined us to discuss crisis communication strategies for charter schools.
Here are the conversation’s top 3 tips:
- Prepare in advance. Develop a crisis communication plan before a crisis hits. Identify potential crisis scenarios (e.g., academic, financial, security issues), outline key messages, choose a spokesperson, and clarify what will and won’t be shared publicly.
- Own the message. In the event of a crisis, be transparent and take accountability. Follow a three-part communication strategy: explain what happened, outline what is being done to address it, and provide a timeline for the next update.
- Monitor social media, but don’t overreact. Use social media to gauge the situation but avoid engaging in heated exchanges. Focus on direct communication channels with key stakeholders like parents and the school community.