The Future Looks Bright

Today I had the honor of speaking with Caleb, Alie, Brook and Emily, 5th grade students at an elementary school in South Carolina.  Mrs. Raper, their teacher, contacted me a week or so ago about speaking to her students.  Their school had recently changed their severe storm preparedness protocols, and the students had some ideas for making students safer during a tornado.

Mrs. Raper and I were able to connect via Skype, and I spent over twenty minutes answering the questions they had about tornadoes, and about my experiences with tornadoes.  I was impressed with the depth of their questions.  They had clearly prepared for the session, and were very polite and considerate.  Their questions were also efficient, focusing on the task at hand instead of asking questions that were not connected to the discussion. 

I have been in education for twenty-five years now, and Caleb, Alie, Brook and Emily gave me plenty of hope for our future.  They were curious, they were inquisitive, they were respectful, and they were definitely motivated to better themselves through learning.  Their parents should be proud, as should Mrs. Raper.  It is easy to jump on the "public education is bad" bandwagon with the numerous awful stories we see in the media, but Mrs. Raper's leadership, and the behavior of her students, tells me the future is bright.

Caleb, Alie, Brook, Emily and Mrs. Raper, thank you for the honor of speaking with you today!

School Safety in the News 5-23-13

Ontario teachers mull change in school safety procedures

Moore tornado forces schools to examine protocols

Use of safe rooms in schools is uneven, at best

School safety pact developed

The two schools destroyed in Moore, OK had no safe rooms

School safety upgrades for Cleburn County

Thoughts on post-tornado recovery

Decision-making in times of stress

Today I was interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor about tornado preparedness.  Apart from the cool part that it's the largest national news outlet I've ever spoken to, it has some good information that parents of school children, educators, and people at large should know about tornadoes and schools.

It is easy to look back and sharpshoot a person's decisions with 20/20 hindsight, but it's quite another thing when nature's fury is barrelling down toward you, and you have to make decisions that can affect hundreds of lives, all while battling severe stress, fear, and striving to not give in to your body's overwhelming urge to flee.

I would like to say I hope I never have to be in that situation, but I have.  In 2002 I was an assistant principal at Clinton Young Elementary, in MSD Perry Twp., when an EF3 tornado hit the roof of Southport Middle School.  This building was right behind ours, about 100 yards away, and the track of the tornado came within 50 yards of my school.  It tore portions of the roof off of our school, letting rain water cascade into the halls, and terrorizing the students and staff sheltering there. 

My heart rate was really high most of the day, and I didn't get home until after 11pm.  The shakes lasted for over half an hour.  Making a decision in that environment is very difficult, and it makes one prone to error.  We want to review what happened, make improvements, and implement the changes, but please keep in mind the environment in which those decisions are made, and make the critiques compassionately.

There, but for the Grace of God, we may go.

School Safety in the News 5-21-13

Parents file complaints against their school district

NWS pre-tornado briefing warned schools

Open Government groups don't like secret safety plans

3 students make the Ohio AAA Auto Club 2012-2013 School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame

Safe Routes to School provides money for sidewalks

Officer Phil teaches students safety

Official says school safety is first priority

Plaza Tower and Briarwood Elementary schools

Pray they find more survivors.

Safe Havens, International

IASP Secretaries Conference

I had the honor and privilege today of presenting at a breakout session at the Indiana Association of School Principals State Secretaries Conference.  My presentation was on Being the Shield, developing the mindset for school safety.  Being the Shield is a new analogy for school safety that I have been thinking on, and this was the first time I shared it with others.

The ladies in attendance were very attentive, and as usual, I learned from them as much as they learned from me.  I was impressed with their professionalism, their dedication, and their desire to protect children.

I met one in particular, I wish I could recall her name, who was pointed out to me by another secretary.  She is a secretary at Henryville High School, recently reopened after being devastated by an EF3 tornado last March. She was in the office when the school bus, carrying 11 elementary kids, returned to the school minutes ahead of the tornado.  She shielded them in the office as Hell's Fury tore into the school.  I couldn't help but admire her for her strength for children, and here she was telling me how my presentation gave her chills.  We shared a hug, and blessed each other. 

Everytime I do these presentations, I met them most wonderful people, and their stories humble me.

Thank you all for Being the Shield.

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