Read. Write. Evacuate. illustrates the importance of being responsible and safe during emergencies at school. Several scenarios, such as fire drills, intruder drills, and evacuations, are explained through the eyes of elementary school children. While the primary purpose of this book is to engage students in dialogue about school emergencies, this book is also for educators who have struggled to find clear, concise, developmentally appropriate language that explains school safety and emergencies. It provides teachers with common language for talking to students about being safe and responsible. For every school district that is grappling with the best way to talk to their students about staying safe during the school day, this book keeps crisis preparedness simple. Additionally, it empowers its readers by emphasizing their importance in the school community.
About the Author: Jane Perkins lives with her family in Westerly, Rhode Island. She taught first grade for 13 years in an elementary school in her hometown. It was in that school where she completed a 2-year principal residency and received her K-12 Administration Certification. Upon completion of her administration degree, Jane became the Lower School Principal at Claiborne Pell Elementary School in Newport, RI. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island in May 2015. Her doctorate work Reading, Writing, and Lockdown: Preparing Teachers for School Tragedy has led her to develop her own school safety program. Jane's company, Strategically Prepared encourages collaboration with school leaders, local law and fire agencies, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in order to plan, implement, and evaluate school district emergency plans. Her focus is on raising teacher self-efficacy with regard to protecting students during a school crisis. Her passion for public safety is further fueled by her 20-year career as a volunteer firefighter. She is Captain of the Watch Hill Fire Department in Westerly, RI, where she actively engages in the town's fire prevention programs. Jane was recently named the Rhode Island Southern Firefighters League Fire Safety Specialist. That role earned her a monthly column in The Westerly Sun, where she shares fire safety tips with her hometown readers. Jane continues to share her research on teachers' perspectives of school safety at a growing number of educational conference centers, colleges, universities, and school districts all over the nation.