Roll Call is back! Hosts Brian Murray and Josh Symonds sit down with Becky Donovan, Risk Management Consultant at AJ Gallagher, whose work with schools across North America is transforming how educators think about risk, relationships, and readiness.
Becky's refreshing approach puts people first — she believes effective risk management begins with empathy, communication, and proactive culture. Together, the trio explore how schools can prepare for crises, update outdated policies, manage reputational threats, and navigate emerging risks like AI use, cyber safety, and student data privacy.
From on-the-ground stories of real incidents to reflections on leadership, trust, and humanity in the face of crisis, this episode is an engaging look into how schools can move from reactive to proactive risk prevention — and why "Don't Hesitate, Delegate" should be the new mantra for every educator.
Show notes:
00:00 - Introduction to Becky Donovan
01:00 - Human-First Response to Crisis
03:10 - Why Relationships Matter in Risk Management
06:10 - The Hidden Gaps in School Risk Planning
08:30 - Updating Codes of Conduct (and Why It Matters)
10:30 - Specialized Codes for Specialized Contexts
14:00 - Making Risk "Manageable" for Teachers
15:30 - Brian's Field Trip Story and Lessons Learned
20:00 - When the Unexpected Happens
25:00 - AI, Cybersecurity, and Data Privacy in Schools
30:00 - Blanket Permissions vs. Informed Consent
34:00 - Emerging Risks for Schools
36:00 - Social Media, Reputation & Crisis Response
40:00 - Data, Consent, and Collaboration
Connect with Becky Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmwithbecky/
Aj Gallagher: https://www.ajg.com/
This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding
This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.
To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com
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