New Guide Offers Practical Advice to School Leaders in the Wake of a Shooting

Members of the Principal Recovery Network.

Last month, a group of principals who have experienced gun violence in their own schools released a resource to help other school leaders who have faced the same type of traumatic event. NASSP’s Principal Recovery Network (PRN)—formed in April 2019—brings together current and former school leaders from around the country. Their shared wisdom is now available in “The Guide to Recovery: A Collection of Best Practices and Practical Advice for School Leaders in the Aftermath of a School Shooting.”

“The scale of the incident may vary, but every school shooting takes a distinct toll on students, educators, parents, and the community,” the guide says. “In the aftermath, many will turn to you, the principal, as a source of support and guidance, even as you seek to personally recover and process your own emotion.” 

The guide’s contributors include 21 current and former principals from across the country. And they offer readers this important note: “As you begin this recovery process, please remember two things: You are not alone, and there is no established timeline for recovery.”

“As school leaders who have lived through this experience,” they write, “we offer guidance and advice based on a few of the issues we commonly faced in recovering from our own traumatic events. We hope this document is a helpful starting place, and we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and offer ongoing support.”

The 13-page guide is organized into five concise sections that highlight areas of critical need after a school shooting: 

  1. Securing Support and Responding to Offers of Assistance
  2. Reopening the School
  3. Attending to Students’ Ongoing Needs
  4. Holding Commemorations and Annual Remembrances
  5. Listening to Student Voice

Each section includes multiple pieces of practical advice gathered from collective lived experience and a compelling testimonial from a PRN member. Read the full guide at nassp.org/PRNGuide.


“As you begin this recovery process, please remember two things: You are not alone, and there is no established timeline for recovery.” 

—PRN Guide to Recovery