1. Case Studies
2. Oakland Schools

Saving Lives Made Simple
Across Oakland Schools

About Oakland Schools

Oakland Schools is an education service agency located in Oakland, Michigan. The organization serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade across 28 districts, 21 charter schools, and several private schools.

The organization’s services include special education, continuing education for teachers, transportation assistance, food services, truancy prevention, and support for homeless students.

Driven by the mission to increase the proficiency and learning of students, Oakland Schools prioritizes their values of:

• Equity — Showing respect for everyone by treating others equally
• Exccellence — Striving to be the best in all that we do
• Wellbeing — Putting the health and safety of students first
• operations — Doing things in the same efficient and streamlined process across every facility

Finding Flexibility & Affordability

One of the challenges that Oakland Schools faced was ensuring that all members of their first responder group were certified in CPR and first aid. This group is made up of volunteers and CPR certification is a requirement for participation.

In the past, Oakland Schools had relied on in-person classes to train and certify their team, but frequent changes in staffing and the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to look for alternative options. The organization needed a solution that would be flexible, easy to schedule, and competitively priced.

85+ Staff Members Certified Streamlined Staff Certifications Across 28 Districts Competitive Pricing High Staff Satisfaction with BlendedPlus Training Flexible Scheduling for Skills Evaluations State Board Compliance Requirements

Empowering Staff to Save Lives

After considering several options, including the American Heart Association, Oakland Schools realized that the method of training on-staff skills evaluators didn’t make sense for their organization. Once Oakland Schools found ProTrainings’ BlendedPlus program, they knew they had found a model that would work with their team’s unique challenges and needs.

“We were impressed with the flexibility of the program and the ability to schedule training at times that were convenient for each member of our staff,” says Andrea Berry, Manager of Events & Hospitality Services.

In addition, ProTrainings provided online training that covered more material than the American Heart Association (AHA) and went into more detail. “We like the fact that other groups that have worked with ProTrainings are highly respected or groups that work within the medical field, so we know that we're getting high-quality training,” Berry says.

First Response For Every Student

By partnering with ProTrainings since August 2022, Oakland Schools was able to successfully certify their staff in CPR and First Aid. As a result, they have lived their values by increasing the safety of their students and staff, striving to be the best with high-quality training, and ensuring each facility is using the same efficient and streamlined process.

ProTrainings' BlendedPlus CPR & First Aid program saved the district time and money, as staff members were able to complete the training without the need for expensive in-person training sessions thanks to ProTrainings' single-use manikin option (SUMO).

Overall, Oakland Schools' success with ProTrainings CPR Certification Program serves as a model for other organizations looking to certify their staff in CPR across several facilities and locations. By partnering with ProTrainings, they were able to streamline operations, provide convenient and cost-effective training to their staff, and ultimately increase the safety of their students and staff.