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| — Aundréa Cika Heschmeyer, President As a proud Youngstown advocate and the parent of an Ursuline alum, I’m heartbroken by the recent allegations coming out of Ursuline High School. I’ve walked those halls. I’ve cheered at those games. I know the strength of that community—and I also know how devastating it is when trusted institutions fail to act swiftly and transparently. Sadly, this isn’t the first time I’ve encountered troubling behavior within our regional Catholic schools. And each time, I’ve watched as silence, denial, or a hope-it-goes-away mindset made everything worse. The damage deepens when leadership hesitates. Let me be clear: crisis communications aren’t about spin. It’s not about protecting a brand at all costs. It’s about accountability, transparency, and the integrity of your leadership when the spotlight is harshest. I’ve lived through this from the other side of the microphone, too. In 2007, I was brought on to manage communications for a local energy company after an unexpected gas pressure build-up caused a residential water well to erupt in Bainbridge, Ohio. While no one was injured, several homes had to be evacuated just days before the holidays. It was a frightening experience for the community—and a defining moment for the company. We didn’t hide. We didn’t dodge questions. We didn’t wait. Within hours we had released a full media statement; notified and relocated affected families—on our dime; worked with local fire departments and ODNR; and proactively began winterizing homes, shutting off utilities, and installing temporary water systems. That’s crisis leadership. And it didn’t happen by accident—it happened because we had a plan. You don’t have to have all the answers right away—but you do have to show up. For your people. For your values. For the community that trusted you in the first place. If you don’t have a crisis plan, let this be your wake-up call. Don’t wait for the headline. Because in moments like these, your first response becomes your legacy.   Hallmarks of a Strong Crisis Communication Plan: ✅ Clear Spokespeople Defines exactly who speaks on behalf of the organization (and who doesn’t). ✅ Ready-to-Use Messages Includes draft holding statements and adaptable message templates. ✅ Stakeholder Map Identifies internal and external audiences for rapid, targeted communication. ✅ Transparency First Commits to honesty, even when details are still emerging. ✅ Empathy & Leadership Sets a tone that shows care, confidence, and responsibility—not just legal compliance |