When Something Happens, You Need Support
Every district leader knows the feeling. A situation develops quickly, the details are still coming in, and the pressure to communicate something—accurately, carefully, and soon—is immediate. In those moments, what you need isn’t a template or a checklist. You need an experienced communication professional on the phone, ready to work through it with you in real time.
That’s what Donovan Group’s crisis communication services are built to provide. We partner with school and district leaders to navigate situations of every kind—from sensitive internal matters to high-profile public incidents—with steady, expert guidance from the first moment through full resolution.
Expert Support, Always Within Reach
This service functions as a standing risk management and communication partnership, not a reactive vendor relationship. When you contract with us, you have a trusted team on call—available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—ready to provide immediate counsel and support whenever a situation requires it. There are no usage limits, no additional charges per incident, and no delays caused by onboarding or contracting. If something happens at 10 p.m. on a Friday before a holiday weekend, you call. We answer.
The Support You Need in Serious Situations
School districts face communication challenges that range from the routine-but-sensitive to the genuinely serious. Our team is equipped to support leaders across the full spectrum, including:
From First Contact Through Full Resolution
When a situation arises, you contact us directly via phone or email. You’re connected quickly—usually within minutes—to an experienced crisis communication professional who can help you assess the situation, determine the appropriate response level, and develop a clear communication strategy.
From there, our team works alongside yours for as long as support is needed. We stay engaged through the full arc of the situation, not just the initial response. That ongoing availability is especially valuable as situations evolve, new information surfaces, or community questions continue.
Deliverables we develop with and for your team may include:
Every deliverable is built to reflect your district’s voice and values—not a generic template.
Designed for Districts of Every Size
Our crisis communications specialists support districts of all sizes, including those with dedicated communications staff and those without. For districts with limited internal capacity, we serve as the primary communication resource during high-pressure situations. For districts that already have a communications professional on staff, we provide additional capacity, outside perspective, and surge support when the internal team is stretched.
Small and rural districts, in particular, tend to benefit significantly from this kind of standing partnership. The communication demands facing a small district are proportionally the same as those facing a large one—but with far fewer staff to absorb them.
Crisis Services Through State Associations
Donovan Group provides crisis communication services to school districts through strategic partnerships with state associations. If you are a member of one of the following associations, crisis communication support is included with your membership at no additional cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
It covers the full range—from routine but sensitive day-to-day issues to complex, high-profile emergencies. This includes student and staff incidents, safety events, media inquiries, community concerns, reputational challenges, and situations that don’t fit a clear category but still require careful communication.