Term of Award

Spring 2025

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

College of Education

Committee Chair

Dr. Juliann Sergi McBrayer

Committee Member 1

Dr. Antonio P. Gutierrez de Blume

Committee Member 2

Dr. Eric Landers

Committee Member 3

Dr. Chad Posick

Abstract

Recent national trends, particularly in rural education, highlight the urgent need for enhanced crisis prevention and intervention strategies. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of crisis frequency and preparedness among rural educators. Through a survey, data were collected on participants' perceptions of crisis frequency and preparedness across various crisis areas. Preliminary findings revealed a significant gap between the perceived level of preparedness and the actual needs for school safety. Despite some training, the quantity and quality of training received by rural educators varied widely, impacting their preparedness to respond to crises. Moreover, an alarming percentage of educators reported not having received any professional learning to prepare them for responding to crisis events and their aftermath. Notably, this study also aimed to investigate the implementation and feasibility of safety plans in rural school settings. This study underscores the necessity for increased crisis management planning and training in rural schools to ensure the safety and well-being of students. Future research should expand the data collection to include a broader range of educational professionals nationwide to inform more comprehensive and effective crisis preparedness strategies.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

Yes

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