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 Together, the trio explore how schools can prepare for crises, update outdated policies, manage reputational threats, and navigate emerging risks like AI use, cyber safety, and student data privacy.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

Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management

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Risk, Relationships, and Real-World Lessons with Becky Donovan