7 As a parent, the thought of a bomb threat, active shooter or lockdown at your child’s school is probably your worst nightmare. Fortunately, Manatee County teachers and administrators are trained to deal with these situations, and the county’s notification system would immediately be activated. But what about preschools? As it turns out, there has been no county-wide emergency training program for these private centers - until now. A groundbreaking new program called PEARLS (Preschool Emergency Alert Response Learning System) offers training and encourages emergency preparedness for preschools. “Our mission for PEARLS is to educate and prepare early learning providers in our community should they ever experience an active shooter, bomb threat or lockdown—ultimately providing more protection for the children they care for on a daily basis,” explains Peggy Sammons, a former preschool owner who is married to a law enforcement of��cer. The Early Learning Coalition contracted Sammons to develop the PEARLS program along with Marie O’Connell, ELC Director of Human Resources, ALiCE Certi��ed Instructor. “The two of us, together with local law enforcement agencies, have worked very diligently to develop PEARLS,” Sammons explains. “The Early Learning Coalition is truly excited to launch the PEARLS program in collaboration with local law enforcement,” remarks O’Connell. “Our relationship with childcare providers will allow us to ��ll an existing gap by notifying individual centers and family childcare homes of possible danger.” PEARLS, O’Connell explains, is focused on mitigating risk through training that develops an awareness and provides options for emergency alert response to protect Manatee County preschoolers. “Our mission is simple yet very purposeful,” O’Connell says. “Educate. Prepare. Protect.” High Praises for PEARLS The PEARLS program is already receiving rave reviews from preschool professionals across Manatee County. “As a Preschool Director/Owner for 30-plus years, I can’t begin to express my excitement about the PEARLS training program,” says Annette Larkin, Owner of Happy Cubs Preschool in Bradenton. “This training hit on all the points necessary to protect our children and families in the event of an active shooter or bomb threat.” Larkin says the PEARLS program is unique in that the training is designed specifically for preschool teachers and administrators. “The combined experience of Peggy Sammons and Marie O’ Connell is evident in the curriculum used to implement this training,” she enthuses. “I strongly recommend this training for all preschool providers.” In addition to safety training, the PEARLS program offers another critical component for preschool s—an emergency ����������������������������������������������������������������������������
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