Texas Superintendents Completed Crisis Training

School leaders attended mandatory Public Information Officer sessions to improve crisis communication.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Administration

Gouache-painted illustration of a pair of professional glasses resting on a wooden school desk, representing crisis communication training. — Texas school superintendents from districts including Hale Center, Smyer, and Olton recently completed mandatory Public Information Officer training in Fort Worth. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Superintendents from Hale Center, Smyer, and Olton completed Public Information Officer training in Fort Worth. The instruction prepares district leaders to manage real-time communication during emergencies.

Why it matters

Texas law now mandates that every school district designate a Public Information Officer to ensure accurate information reaches parents. The requirement aims to bolster community trust and streamline responses to critical events.

House Bill 33 mandates that every Texas school district designate a Public Information Officer. These officials must obtain certification through the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

The players

Texas Division of Emergency Management

This state agency oversees emergency preparedness and manages the mandatory certification process for school district Public Information Officers.

The details

District administrators attended certification classes at the Tarrant County Sheriff's Training Academy. The training provides leaders with frameworks to provide accurate, real-time updates and combat social media rumors during unfolding events.

The Uvalde school shooting occurred in 2022.
Hale Center schools were placed on a hold during a law enforcement pursuit on September 28, 2026.
Superintendents attended training in Fort Worth during the week of September 29, 2026.

Roadmap

The professionalization of school communication roles aligns with the broader push to centralize and standardize emergency management across Texas districts. This shift follows the implementation of House Bill 33, ensuring schools maintain consistent protocols during crises.

Parents can expect more direct, timely updates from their school districts during emergency incidents. This communication strategy is designed to minimize the spread of misinformation during security-related holds or other crisis events.

The takeaway

Effective crisis communication is now a core requirement for modern school administration in Texas. Leaders are increasingly focused on leveraging verified information to maintain transparency and parent confidence during local incidents.