When a crisis happens at school, most people focus on the response in the moment. But as school psychologist, public speaker and national crisis-response leader Ben Fernandez reminds us, effective school safety begins long before an incident — and continues long after.

In this episode, Michele and Ben unpack the before, during, and after of crisis intervention: how schools can strengthen psychological safety, prepare multidisciplinary teams, and understand the evolving needs of today’s students. Ben shares what he’s learned from decades of leading crisis teams, empowering school-based responders, and helping districts navigate some of their hardest days.

Together, they explore what it really takes to support students, staff, and families through acute events — and how communities can build systems that care for the people who care for others.

In this conversation:

• Why physical and psychological safety are “two sides of the same coin”
• How shifting student needs and trauma histories impact crisis response today
• What crisis intervention teams do — and where they fit in ICS and EOPs
• Empowering school mental health staff during acute events
• Supporting special populations and planning for accessibility before crisis hits
• Preventing burnout, secondary trauma, and fatigue among crisis respondersReal examples of recovery work — and what they teach us about readiness
  

👉 Listen now and learn how a comprehensive approach to crisis intervention strengthens every layer of school safety.

Guest links:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfernandezsp/

Ben at Safe and Sound:

https://www.safeandsoundschools.org/featured-speakers/ben-fernandez#:~:text=At%20Safe%20and%20Sound%20Schools,informed%2C%20psychologically%20safe%20school%20environments.