Interruptions during the school day eat away at instructional time in the classroom. According to a survey, K-12 educators report losing about 5.5 hours of instructional time every week due to disruptive student behavior. This means almost 10-20 days out of every school year are lost, all while school is in session.
With so many possible triggers for classroom disruption, it’s important to utilize responsive school alert systems that not only facilitate rapid response to incidents but discourage disruptive behavior before it ever occurs.
From discouraging student misconduct to deterring unwelcome visitors, robust emergency notification systems like the CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ are useful for much more than weather or lockdown alerts.
Learning Disruptions Negatively Affect Students
Along with the many other sociological changes and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, student behavior is markedly different after returning to in-person learning. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports troubling numbers: 84% of public schools agree the pandemic negatively affected the development and ability of their students to participate in full-time, in-person study. The most frequent problems include:
- student misconduct
- acts of disrespect
- rowdy behavior outside of the classroom
- use of prohibited electronic devices such as personal phones
An increase in both student and teacher absenteeism reflects the increased stresses of classroom and learning management. “Compared to a typical school year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 72% of U.S. public schools reported an increase in chronic absenteeism among their students” (NCES). With 17% percent of the student body chronically absent, classrooms are difficult to keep on pace.
Learning Disruptions Impact Teacher Burnout
Students aren’t the only ones missing; teacher absences have increased by a comparable degree. Schools are forced to rely on administrative or non-teaching staff as substitutes—and these substitute instructors lack knowledge about the specific makeup of the class as well as classroom management training and experience.
For many instructors, classroom management is one of the most difficult aspects of their position. This responsibility can lead to disproportionate stress levels for teachers in comparison to professionals working in other industries and leads to a high rate of burnout in teachers, especially women and people of color, according to Rand’s report on Teacher Well-Being and Intentions to Leave.
According to Rand’s research, almost a quarter of teachers nationwide are considering leaving their post at the end of the school year, citing “stresses and disappointments of the job not being worth it, their salary, and the number of working hours” as their top reasons for leaving. Excessive teacher stress leads to burnout, resulting in lower job satisfaction for teachers and diminished communication with students. When instructors do leave, replacing them with less experienced teaching staff makes classroom management during disruptive student behavior all the more difficult.
Preventative measures to address instructor well-being benefit the students as well—healthy teachers provide better student support.
Emergency Notification Systems as a Deterrent
In the interest of protecting students and teachers alike, schools can leverage technology not just to react to disruptive behavior but to deter it in the first place.
Mitigating Student Disruptions
Students who struggle with behavioral issues know how long it takes for teachers and staff to address their outbursts. This is a frequent factor in their initial decision to act out. Schools can implement emergency notification systems that instantly alert administrators and first responders to the exact location of a disruption.
The best emergency notification systems offer a wearable panic button worn like teacher ID badges, which send duress signals discreetly with just a press of the button. Unlike mobile phones with unreliable battery life and dependence on Wi-Fi or cell service, these always-on badges enable teachers to request and receive support immediately.
The presence of these badges serves as a visual cue and reminder to students that disruptive incidents will be met with immediate support in response. A visual reminder of the consequences can prevent students from engaging in disruptive behavior altogether.
Apart from visual reminders, consistent, rapid response times can prevent students from acting out. As former educator and CENTEGIX Chief Development Officer Dr. Roderick Sams says, “Many students think that if they’re being the class clown and can be the center of attention for half an hour, then the risk is worth it. But, if they start going down that path and then realize within 30 seconds, someone will come put a stop to their behavior, it changes things. Knowing that teachers and administrators respond quickly might prevent them from actually even going down the path of being a disruptor in the first place.”
Deterring Unwelcome Visitors
Volunteers and visitors are a welcome and crucial part of a healthy school culture, but safety procedures must be in place to prevent unwelcome or unsafe guests from entering campus. Visitor management systems are the best way administrators know everyone on campus is free of the red flags that would call their presence into question.
Innovative visitor management systems allow all visitors to be screened through multiple databases. Most often this includes the United States National Sex Offender Registry and custody lists. In some cases, visitor management systems feature customizable lists as well. According to best practices, every visitor should be screened every time.
Let’s imagine a visitor with bad intentions was planning to visit a school’s campus. However, before arriving they discovered they would be required to scan their ID, flagging to the administrators that they were on a No-Go list. Most likely, this individual would not attempt the visit for fear of the consequences.
Emergency Situations
School emergencies are inevitable. With the right technology, they can be managed rapidly and effectively. Emergency notification systems can shorten response times, and when strong policies and procedures are in place, a culture of safety can discourage bad behavior.
Technology that facilitates a direct connection to law enforcement cuts out unnecessary wait time. The best technology will immediately notify first responders of the emergency, identify the exact location of the incident, and display other relevant safety information to form the best response plan. Knowing that first responders can be on the scene in a matter of minutes can intimidate and deter bad actors from making their nefarious plans in the first place.
CENTEGIX Fosters a Culture of Safety
Safe schools are important because students who feel unsafe find it more difficult to learn. “Students who feel unsafe may also be disruptive in the classroom, which in turn can cause a ripple effect in their peers,” writes Dr. Roderick Sams, CENTEGIX Chief Development Officer.
“When you establish a culture of safety, your staff feels trusted to act when something doesn’t look right. They’re empowered to resolve situations, whether through additional campus help or 911,” says Brent Cobb, CENTEGIX CEO.
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ can help create a culture of safety in your school and includes:
- CrisisAlert™—a wearable panic button that allows teachers and staff to request help at the push of a button. CrisisAlert facilitates rapid responses to emergencies and makes every second matter.
- Safety Blueprint™—critical incident mapping that shows first responders and administrators the exact location of the emergency in real time. Furthermore, it displays all safety assets on campus and integrates with first responder technology.
- Visitor Management—scanner and self-serve kiosk that screens every visitor on campus through numerous background checklists, every time. Visitor Management integrates with School Information Systems and can provide helpful data for tailored intervention strategies.
- Reunification—establishes everyone on campus is safe and all students are reunited with approved guardians or caregivers.
“The system’s effectiveness and ease of use provide our staff with the confidence and peace of mind necessary to maintain a secure learning environment,” reports Ty Morrow, Safety Director at Brazosport ISD. This benefits everyone: students who might be tempted to cause a disruption feel less inclined to do so, while they and their peers enjoy a calmer and more predictable learning environment.
The CENTEGIX Difference
Wearable panic buttons close technology and communication gaps created by other emergency notification systems, as reported in the CENTEGIX 2023 Spring Safety Trends Report. Rather than retrieving a phone from a personal bag or desk drawer, or needing to call the office and wait for an answer, teachers use the CrisisAlert badge for immediate help. Assistance comes to the classroom quickly, without needing verbal confirmation or communication.
The discreet alert button doesn’t rely on a cell or Wi-Fi signal to send an alert, and discretion is critical to de-escalating a situation. And while campus-wide alerts like lockdowns or weather events are reportable using the CrisisAlert badge, the majority of reported alerts relate to student behavior, like elopement or physical altercation. With the push of a button, teachers can intervene in disruptive situations quickly, before other students are encouraged to participate. The alert system isn’t tied to a specific physical location—like an intercom or phone—protecting staff and students all over campus.
And in terms of visitor management, at-a-glance identification is key. With CENTEGIX Visitor Management, visitor pre-screening helps school administrators prevent registered sexual offenders or noncustodial parents from accessing students. Enhanced Visitor Management badges are bright yellow to be easily identifiable and are enabled with locating technology, contributing to the important culture of safety.
The improved well-being and behavior of your students begins with fast, discreet solutions like the CENTEGIX Safety Platform. Connect with us today to see how the innovative technology of the CENTEGIX Safety Platform can help you deter disruptive behavior and keep your campus safe.
