In an era of multiple complex crises, every K-12 school needs a team that's fully prepared to take immediate action after traumatic events, deaths, and other major losses. This practical planning guide empowers school administrators and leaders to build, train, and sustain highly effective school crisis teams. Developed by an author team with decades of experience—including David Schonfeld, the country's go-to authority on responding to school crisis—this urgently needed book wraps everything leaders need to know and do into one accessible, comprehensive package. Readers will get critical information on the need for school crisis preparedness, the nuts and bolts of establishing and strengthening efficient crisis teams, and best practices and strategies for responding to different types of school crisis. A school leader's ultimate guide to proactive preparation, this book will help new and existing crisis teams respond quickly after traumatic events and loss and ensure the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of students, staff, and the community. LEARN HOW TO: Apply seven guiding principles for building a strong school crisis team and crisis response plan Implement the authors' effective school crisis response model used in thousands of schools nationwide Reduce the negative impacts of crisis events and support healing and recovery Establish and train a crisis team that's equipped to respond at any time Use an adaptable checklist of actions for your team to take after a crisis Design and implement tabletop exercises and drills that will strengthen preparedness without overwhelming participants Make appropriate decisions about memorialization and commemoration Provide effective staff support and professional self-care in the aftermath of a crisis involving traumatic exposure and deaths PRACTICAL MATERIALS: Give your team real-world guidance with vignettes, case studies, and tabletop exercises based on actual crisis situations. Plus, support your action plan with links to helpful resources, downloadable crisis notification templates, and training materials for school administration and staff.