Small Team, Big Crisis: Scalable Strategies for School Crisis Communications
Date: 7/22/2026
Time: 9:45 - 10:55 AM
Room: Grand Ballroom A & B (Floor 1)
Skill Session - Live lecture, panel discussion or interactive session with time for Q&A. 60-minutes.
TACTICS–Tactics, activities and tools in communications
Session Description
Every school communicator handles routine incidents like bus delays or secure perimeter situations, but are you prepared for the day the unthinkable happens? When a fire, chemical spill, or school shooting occurs, your community relies on you to be the calm voice with timely and accurate information.
The presentation will draw on two real life scenarios that occurred less than a year apart that had completely different outcomes. One was a communications nightmare and the other was a success.
Join us to learn how to deliver timely, high-pressure communications that alleviate fear and facilitate a smooth reunification process. You will also learn how your school district can become the trusted voice for accurate information to your panicking audience. Finally, whether you are part of a large team or a "one-person shop," you will walk away with actionable solutions to make the unmanageable manageable.
Whether this is your first year in school communications or you are nearing retirement, this session is designed to move beyond theory and provide a "boots-on-the-ground" look at high-stakes crisis communications management.
Bring your headphones to the session! The presentation will be simulcast in a Google Meet to make is easier for everyone to hear.
Presenter(s)
Scott Pribble
Director, External Communications
Denver Public Schools
Scott Pribble is an experienced communications leader with a diverse background in public information, crisis communication, and media relations. Currently serving as the director of external communications for Denver Public Schools, he oversees a team of amazing communications professionals responsible for managing the district’s external communication efforts, including media relations, video production, social media, and web design.
Previously, Pribble was a spokesperson at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he managed communications for the campus police department and executed communication strategies for large-scale planned events, emergencies, and daily operations.
He has also worked on many regional crises such as wildfires and flooding as a part of the Arvada (CO) Fire Protection District and the Jefferson County (CO) Incident Management Team.
Pribble holds a Master’s degree in Educational/Instructional Technology, and has received numerous awards for excellence in communications, including the 2024 National School Public Relations Association Golden Achievement Award. LinkedIn Profile
Small Team, Big Crisis: Scalable Strategies for School Crisis Communications
Category
Skill Session - Live lecture, panel discussion or interactive session with time for Q&A. 60-minutes.