When it comes to safety drills in schools, special education substitute teachers need to be aware of how to support students with special needs. Students who need support during safety drills usually have a plan in place. You’ll need to be familiar with that plan and execute on it.
Let's look at all of these in more detail.
School administrators understand the importance of ensuring that every student in the building can participate in school safety drills. Before the start of each school year (and in the process of accepting new students into the building), school administrators consider each student's needs, including mobility issues, sensory differences, cognitive abilities, and communication challenges, to develop tailored safety strategies.
Talk to your special education supervisor or other administrator about safety drills in your school or classroom. Your administrator may explain these procedures to you or direct you to a binder or other materials in the classroom, which will inform you on how to best care for your students with special needs.
Administrators often conduct specific evacuation safety drills in schools to support students with special needs. These may include role-play scenarios. If you're part of a special education evacuation drill, be sure that you understand your role — your team is counting on you!
Many safety drills require teachers to guide students as they exit the building. Exits should be marked clearly with visual cues. You may need to use exits designed for wheelchair users or students with mobility aids.
If you have a student who needs a specialized exit and you are unsure of where to go, ask other staff members and/or review the evacuation plan before the school day begins. It's not recommended that you lift or otherwise move a student during a safety drill.
Some students may need specialized equipment, such as an evacuation chair, to help them get out of the building safely. These tools are only necessary if specified as such by the school or classroom's safety evacuation plan. Only use this equipment if you have been trained and approved to do so.
Meeting at a designated point outside the school is a key part of most safety drills. It's important to know where you're to stand outside with your students.
Many schools use the "buddy" system during safety drills to provide students with special needs extra support. A specific staff member may serve as a buddy for one or more students in your classroom. It's unlikely that you'll be asked to serve as a buddy, as most districts offer contingency plans if the classroom teacher is not available.
If you are asked to be a buddy, keep your student close to you at all times. Some students may not be comfortable saying they need help or are feeling overwhelmed, so keep an eye out for non-verbal signs that students may need your support.
For students with hearing or other differences, it can be hard to understand directives during safety drills. Typically, a student support team of teachers and administrators will develop clear communication methods to help students who need additional support.
If you're unable to work with the student support team, using gestures like putting a hand up to indicate "stop" or pointing in a certain direction can help. If necessary, you can also use paper and pencil to communicate necessary information.
If you're interested in making a difference as a substitute teacher, we're here to help. At Kelly Education, we provide training and development to help you create positive, productive classrooms.
Check out the resources below to learn more about supporting all students, handling emergencies in schools, and your role as a substitute teacher:
If you or someone you know is interested in substitute teaching, fill out our brief interest form, and one of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions. We'll also share more about opportunities to become a substitute teacher or support staff with one of our school district partners.