
Bitner Henry Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency that works to secure insurance coverage for schools, colleges and universities, homeschool co-ops, tutoring, and other education ventures in North Carolina. Bitner Henry serves all 100 counties in North Carolina, including Wake County, Mecklenburg County, Guilford County, Forsyth County, Cumberland County, and cities such as Raleigh, Charlotte, and Greensboro. Bitner Henry works with private, public, and state schools, and other education ventures.
With an expansive team of agents across the state, Bitner Henry understands the need for local agents who understand North Carolina and see your mission firsthand. Bitner Henry Insurance and its partner agency, The American Church Group of North Carolina, provide comprehensive insurance solutions for over 3,000 organizations in North Carolina.
Schools in North Carolina face a variety of risks that require careful planning and mitigation strategies. Like much of the southeastern US, severe weather events pose a significant threat. As this previous year revealed, hurricanes and tropical storms can bring high winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding, potentially causing structural damage and disrupting school operations. Inland schools are more susceptible to tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, which also bring risks of damaging winds, hail, and lightning strikes. If a school building is damaged, a school may have to go remote or find another meeting place.
Beyond weather, schools must also consider the risk of fires and the unfortunate reality of school violence. While it’s not possible to prevent every disaster, insurance can help schools find peace of mind. When schools have insurance, they can know that whatever disaster they may face, they can have financial protection in the case of a covered loss.
Lee Harrison is a Bitner Henry Insurance and American Church Group of North Carolina agent with a passion for education. Formerly a math teacher, Lee worked in schools for eight years before joining the BItner Henry team. He knows how school systems work and what coverage they need to protect themselves in the case of a loss. His background with North Carolinian schools helps him support both large and small schools in the ways they need. Lee looks at liability and coverage from the perspective of a North Carolina resident and a former teacher.
This aptitude for service and education has helped him serve both public and private faith-based schools and education organizations in North Carolina and around the country. Together with his wife and children, he lives in Farmville, in Pitt County. By living in North Carolina, he understands the unique things that North Carolinian schools and ministries need.
Schools often choose different types of coverage from a typical business, such as coverage for unique property such as school buildings, audio-visual equipment such as projectors, and classroom equipment. They also need to address liability risks with coverage for field trips, sexual misconduct and abuse, directors and officers, and commercial auto coverage insurance. It’s important that an insurance agent understands the needs of their client and can communicate how insurance coverage can protect them in the event of a loss.
Having the proper Liability insurance enables an organization to continue normal operations while dealing with claims of negligence or wrongdoing. To protect their financial well-being in the case of slip-and-fall accidents on school grounds, injuries during sports or playground activities, and more, schools need liability insurance that will address these events. Bitner Henry agents, such as Lee Harrison, understand insurance and can help. Their Bitner Henry Insurance agent can discuss with them what options are available to address these risks.
Transportation is another source of liability, with the potential for accidents involving school buses, vehicles, or, in some cases, student drivers. In addition, as schools turn to increasingly online education methods, they may want to consider cyber liability insurance to help protect their sensitive data.
“I love working with people, getting to know people, and explaining how things work,” Lee says. Lee’s mission is to make schools safer through insurances such as property, general liability, professional liability, product liability, commercial vehicle, workers’ compensation, and more.
What should schools and education programs in North Carolina be looking for in an agent? Lee answers with two questions: “Is your agent equipping you with the right resources to help your organization thrive? Are they putting in the time and effort you deserve?” When looking for an insurance agent for your education or school program, look for agents like ours: agents that put in the time and effort you deserve for your organization to thrive.
If you are a school, college, university, adult education program, tutoring program, homeschool co-op, private school, or other education program in the area and you have any questions, feel free to reach out and request a quote on our website. Together, we can empower your program and help the people you serve.
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