One thing we know about clients is that no two are the same. You can work with a dozen school districts, even in the same state, but each one comes with its own distinct set of exposures, campuses, culture, and leaders. We have had the pleasure of working with Pocono Mountain School District for 14 years, headed by superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Robison. Through her 16-year tenure as superintendent, she has seen it all and is truly proud of her school district and all the students it serves. With more than 40 languages spoken across its student population, nine schools, and a commitment to innovation that has earned national recognition, Dr. Elizabeth Robison has spent the last 16 years helping Pocono Mountain School District evolve to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.

Throughout the last 14 years, the EHD service and risk control teams have partnered with PMSD to keep their staff, students and buildings safe and protected. We sat down with Dr. Robison to learn all about the Pocono Mountain School District: who it serves, where it’s been and where it’s going.

About the District

The Pocono Mountain School District sits in the Northeastern part of Pennsylvania, covering about 205 square miles and six townships. Its population is as diverse as its geography, with over 40 languages represented among students and families. In the last 11 years, Dr. Elizabeth Robison’s school district has earned numerous awards: a National School Boards Association Magna Silver Award for STEM integration, a Purple School Star designation recognizing support for military families connected to the Tobyhanna Army Depot, eleven consecutive years as a Best Community for Music Education, six years of recognition for outstanding visual arts programming, eleven consecutive awards for excellence in financial reporting, and recognition on the AP District Honor Roll.

This spring, three Pocono Mountain teams traveled to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Iowa. One returned home with a World Championship title, a testament to the creativity, perseverance, and innovation that district leaders work to foster every day. This achievement is just one example of the District’s broader commitment to offering students numerous opportunities to discover their interests and talents.

Dr. Robison’s pride in her students and schools is infectious, “I feel like we have so many things that we offer for our children to have that niche in school, whether it’s music, arts, athletics, after-school activities, tutoring, or credit recovery. I feel very good about what we’re offering children to make sure that they want to be connected to the school community.”

PMSD’s Partnership with EHD

Because of the District’s size, with nine schools as well as a cyber program, it was vital to partner with an insurance expert who could navigate its program’s complexities. PMSD partnered with EHD in 2014 after an extensive selection process.  Since then, EHD has integrated its team with the District’s administrative team and evolved into an extension of the district, driving improvement in processes, culture and results

EHD’s risk control team has overseen the development of the district’s workplace safety framework, which includes regular safety meetings, training for supervisors and staff, and feedback mechanisms. Dr. Robison noted that the District now has a “culture of safety”, thanks to these efforts and those of her team.

Dr. Robison noted, “We’re at the point now where we’re not reacting to concerns. We’re being proactive and putting things in place because we’re looking through a different lens now.”

Recently, PMSD was subjected to a highly complex Labor and Industry Audit focused on their Self Insurance program and the EHD team stepped in to walk them through the process. Dr. Robison credited the partnership for helping prepare documentation, supporting workplace safety efforts, and participating in safety meetings that strengthened the District’s readiness for compliance requirements.

Moving forward, with these efforts in place, PMSD has reached a point in its partnership with EHD where it can focus on long-term planning rather than reacting to emerging challenges. Dr. Robison spoke of this clearly, “Safety is number one for our students and our school community. Because of our long-term relationship with EHD, we’ve reached a point where we’re not reacting to problems anymore. We’re proactively putting things in place for the future.”

Now, facilities and systems feel stable and supported, enabling administrators to proactively identify future needs and improvements. As the District balances preserving the character and appearance of district facilities with accessibility and modern security requirements, they know they can rely on their established culture of safety and EHD’s ongoing risk management support.

Looking Ahead

With reliable and effective systems in place, PMSD is looking ahead to future initiatives that will benefit its students and community. Dr. Robison noted that responsible use of AI is a significant topic in all areas of school life: from students and staff to the district as a whole. As the District evaluates emerging technologies like AI, modernizes curriculum, and invests in facilities for future generations, its focus remains unchanged: creating opportunities for students to thrive. EHD is proud to support that mission through strategic guidance in safety, risk management, and long-term planning.

To learn more about PMSD, please visit their website here.