A Tornado Response that Mobilized Collective Leadership
BY ROB CLAYTON/School Administrator, August 2022

Community and business donations to Warren County Public Schools in Bowling Green, Ky., following a devastating tornado last December, filled a middle school’s lobby. PHOTO COURTESY OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BOWLING GREEN, KY.

With the exception of our annual holiday breakfast meeting with directors and principals, last Dec. 10, a Friday nearing the year-end school break, appeared to be a typical ending to another week of school. Though we still were battling COVID-19 interruptions, the breakfast provided a wonderful opportunity to bring administrators together for some joy and fellowship at a time of limited face-to-face interaction.

Little did I know our lives would change only 14 hours later. The next 10 days would serve as a stretch of time that will be etched into my mind forever as superintendent of Warren County Public Schools in southern Kentucky.

At roughly 1:30 a.m. Dec. 11, the first of three tornadoes touched down in Warren County, reducing homes and businesses to rubble. In close proximity to several school buildings, the storms claimed the lives of 17 people, including four of our students. In total, more than 500 families, including 169 students and 22 staff members, were affected directly by the destructive tornadoes.

At 5:30 a.m., I received a call from our chief financial officer, Chris McIntyre, informing me that he authorized the opening of one of our schools as a shelter for impacted families. Due perhaps to my fatigue or the self-assurance in his voice, the full scope of his words did not resonate in the moment of his call. Soon after, I lost cell service. The goal became clear: I had to get to a place with cellphone coverage and find out what was happening.

Once I did so, my phone began pinging frantically and, much to my dismay, I noted 75 text messages. As I began returning calls, I was advised that our Jennings Creek Elementary School neighborhood had sustained significant damage. I raced to the area and was shocked to see the level of devastation, including the destruction of several homes.

The shock and disbelief diminished when I took in the efforts of school district employees who already were on the scene, providing food, shelter and comfort to impacted families. The list of classified and certified staff who took on significant leadership during the tornado recovery was lengthy.

A Ready Response

How did our school district prepare for a moment like this? We have long been a willing participant in planning meetings with our local emergency management agency. However, this situation was unique in that our employees were among the first responders. During the initial storm response, limited communication forced several key organizations, including the school district, to work autonomously. 

Families found a warm place to sleep in a shelter opened by Warren County, Ky., Public Schools after a tornado significantly damaged or destroyed 500 homes in December 2021. PHOTO COURTESY OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BOWLING GREEN, KY.

Collaborative leadership and effective communication are key drivers in all of our district’s professional learning, and both were critical in our emergency response. Inherent in our district’s culture and processes, our executive leadership team, principals and district directors work closely together and are given significant autonomy to lead their respective areas. This approach ensures efficient operations in a district our size (about 18,000 students and 2,900 employees).

Prior to Dec. 11, our executive leadership team had prepared for how to respond in the event the superintendent was out of pocket. That early December morning, this preparation was put into play when our chief financial officer became the point person for our school district’s relief efforts.

With the storm limiting communication for some of us, McIntyre was the first member of our executive leadership team whom emergency management could reach. Our experience working collaboratively positioned him to lead without hesitation. Even as I arrived on site, to minimize confusion, he continued to lead. Within hours, in service to the entire impacted community, our district team had established a command center, set up community and first-responder shelters, approved processes for transportation, spending and supply collections, and mobilized food service operations.

Empowered Staff

During emergencies, particularly when communication is restricted, staff at various levels must be empowered to make leadership decisions. A collaborative leadership approach and effective communication are vital to increase leadership capacity.

Although the experience in Warren County was heartbreaking, the teamwork and empathy demonstrated by our staff continues to give everyone a great sense of hope and optimism as we continue to help our community heal.

ROB CLAYTON is superintendent of Warren County Public Schools in Bowling Green, Ky.