The shooting at Columbine HS happened during my 1st year as a teacher.  I was teaching in the tiny costal town of Ilwaco, WA and the teacher in the room next to me had a cousin who attended Columbine HS.  For some reason knowing someone who knew a student at the school made it all more real.  The shock on her face and the inability to get in touch with family to find out if she was ok made a significant impact.  In the last 10 years I have been involved in 2 actual lockdowns and my biggest concern is how would I protect my students...my "kids" as I call them...how would I tell a parent that I was unable to protect their child if something did happen.

Every time a school shooting makes the news I pray for the hearts of those involved...and I also praise God that it didn't happen at my school.  Selfish I know...but it seems to be a natural reaction.  It has also made me become more set in my thinking that as a teacher my job goes far beyond providing academic learning.  I...and all teachers for that matter...need to foster a high level of trust with students.  They need to know that you are there to protect them in the event that the worse case scenario were to happen.

As a mom I pray that my children never have to face this first hand.  The earthquake we experienced in 2001 in Washington State was enough of a scare for me.  It was hours before I was able to contact them to confirm that they were ok.   At the same time...I had the 30 students in my class that I was responsible for  after the quake.  The entire time I prayed that their teachers were as concerned about their well-being as I was about the well-being of my students.