National Center for Children Exposed to Violence: This organization provides free resources for parents, teachers to speak to children about disaster, war, terrorism, and death.
Link: http://www.nccev.org/resources/publications.html
Go to the above link and receive the following Free Resources listed below:
Helping Children in the Wake of Disaster - Professional pdf
Helping Children in the Wake of Disaster - Parents pdf
Parent’s Guide to Talking to their Children About War pdf
Guía para Padres, para hablar con sus hijos acerca de la Guerra pdf
Teachers' Guide for Talking with their Students about War pdf
In the Aftermath of Terrorism: A Summary pdf
Parent's Guide for Talking with their Children pdf
Guía para Padres para hablar con sus hijos pdf
Teachers' Guide for Talking with their Students
School Administrators' Guide for Talking to their Students and Staff pdf
Parent's Guide to Talking with Children about Death pdf
Responding to Children about Anthrax pdf
Baker, L. L., Jaffe, P. G., Berkowitz, S. J., & Berkman, M. (2002). Children exposed to violence: a handbook for police trainers to increase understanding and improve community responses. London, Ontario, Canada: Centre for children and families in the justice system of the London family court clinic, Inc. pdf
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Elementary Special Ed Teacher Killed by a Stalker on School Grounds
Shooting At a School or Workplace Violence: Elementary Special Ed Teacher Killed By Stalker
When does an external threat against a school employee become a threat to the safety of the school community?
Incident. On Feb 26 at 0735 am, Jennifer Paulson, a 30 year old female special education teacher, was shot and killed as she was entering Birney Elementary School before students arrived. (The school has about 400 students in kindergarten through fifth grade and is located in Pierce County in Tacoma Washington.) Jed Waits, the shooter, was waiting for her at school and shot her multiple times near the school’s front entrance and then fled by car. She died immediately and a custodian initiated a call to 911 with a description of the gunman’s car. A deputy pulled the gunman aside 10 miles from school in a parking lot near a daycare center. Jed Waits came out of the car firing and was shot dead. School official diverted inbound school busses to another location and cancelled school for the day (Friday) as a large number of police and ambulances responded to the school.
Background. Jed Waits knew Miss Paulson (his victim) since college where they worked together in the college cafeteria. He had recently been released after being arrested for violating a protective order. In 2008, Waits had showed up and entered the school as an unapproved visitor and had also sent unwarranted gifts to her at school. The Principal contacted Wait’s National Guard Commander to inform him of the harassment. Waits received a less than honorable discharge in April 2009 from the Wash Army National Guard due to a pattern of misconduct. An anti-harassment order was issued which Wait’s violated by coming within 1000 ft of her home which resulted in his arrest. Classes were also cancelled for Monday as well including a memorial ceremony at the scene of the shooting. School district spokesman Dan Voelpel said Paulson worked in the language resource center helping students one-on-one with reading problems. She had been with the district since 2004 and at the school since 2007. Paulson's death "knocked everyone flat," Voelpel said. "It's going to hit this community hard."
When does an external threat against a school employee become a threat to the safety of the school community?
Incident. On Feb 26 at 0735 am, Jennifer Paulson, a 30 year old female special education teacher, was shot and killed as she was entering Birney Elementary School before students arrived. (The school has about 400 students in kindergarten through fifth grade and is located in Pierce County in Tacoma Washington.) Jed Waits, the shooter, was waiting for her at school and shot her multiple times near the school’s front entrance and then fled by car. She died immediately and a custodian initiated a call to 911 with a description of the gunman’s car. A deputy pulled the gunman aside 10 miles from school in a parking lot near a daycare center. Jed Waits came out of the car firing and was shot dead. School official diverted inbound school busses to another location and cancelled school for the day (Friday) as a large number of police and ambulances responded to the school.
Background. Jed Waits knew Miss Paulson (his victim) since college where they worked together in the college cafeteria. He had recently been released after being arrested for violating a protective order. In 2008, Waits had showed up and entered the school as an unapproved visitor and had also sent unwarranted gifts to her at school. The Principal contacted Wait’s National Guard Commander to inform him of the harassment. Waits received a less than honorable discharge in April 2009 from the Wash Army National Guard due to a pattern of misconduct. An anti-harassment order was issued which Wait’s violated by coming within 1000 ft of her home which resulted in his arrest. Classes were also cancelled for Monday as well including a memorial ceremony at the scene of the shooting. School district spokesman Dan Voelpel said Paulson worked in the language resource center helping students one-on-one with reading problems. She had been with the district since 2004 and at the school since 2007. Paulson's death "knocked everyone flat," Voelpel said. "It's going to hit this community hard."
Saturday, March 6, 2010
School Preparedness and the Emergency Management Process
Fundamental to a school community developing a culture of preparedness is the understanding the Emergency Management Process to provide a template for planning, preparation, and execution. This process is a cycle in which steps don’t only happen sequentially, but can happen simultaneously as well. The phases of this process (Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery) provide a holistic framework for a school preparedness network.
MITIGATION / PREVENTION: actions that can prevent, alleviate, or diminish the potential effects of all-hazard situations on a school community.
MITIGATION / PREVENTION: actions that can prevent, alleviate, or diminish the potential effects of all-hazard situations on a school community.
- School Mitigation examples: school all-hazard surveys; school district / school preparedness working groups and committees; public education; grant / budget and resource allocations; crime prevention design (CPTED) and disaster-resistant construction; public information programs; hazard-reduction programs; and incident planning, etc.
- School Preparedness examples: Incident Command System (ICS), District and School Emergency Operation Plans (EOP); All-Hazard Incident Action Plans (IAPs) with associated public affairs guidance; FEMA education and training; and HSEEP (Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program) drills and exercises.
- School Response examples: Mobilizing emergency response personnel and equipment; accountability of personnel; conduct search and rescue; alerting the public; school evacuation and student reunification; mass casualty treatment and tracking, etc.
- School Recovery examples: facility inspection and damage assessment; crime scene processing; crime scene bio-hazard clean-up; crisis counseling; memorial services; long-term medical assistance; reconstruction; post-incident investigation and litigation; rehabilitation; school continuity of operations (resiliency); etc.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Precautions when Presenting Bad News vice Reacting to threatening situations
Below is a situation where a teacher was required to make a Mandated Report to Child Protective Services (CPS) in which the teacher and the administration did not think through or "wargame" any of the negative consequences such as parental threats or a violent reaction.
Mandated Reporting from Caroline, Special Education Teacher: Newark, New Jersey
"For valid reasons, I reported one of my students" families to Child Protective Services (CPS), The family was known to lie, prone to violence and was known to have guns and knives at home. After the child was removed, the family burst into my school building yelling "Where's Caroline? We're gonna kill her!" My principal dialed 911 and all was okay. What I would do differently is make sure that the prinicipal and the superintendent and all relevant personnel were aware of the situation before hand that safety precautions were in place."
Final Comment: It is important to plan for and prepare for how people (students, parents, employees, staff, spectators, etc. ) may react to receiving bad news. In the ideal world, we all hope for the best in people, but real world we live in requires practical measures we must take to ensure the school environment remains a safe and controlled environment.
Mandated Reporting from Caroline, Special Education Teacher: Newark, New Jersey
"For valid reasons, I reported one of my students" families to Child Protective Services (CPS), The family was known to lie, prone to violence and was known to have guns and knives at home. After the child was removed, the family burst into my school building yelling "Where's Caroline? We're gonna kill her!" My principal dialed 911 and all was okay. What I would do differently is make sure that the prinicipal and the superintendent and all relevant personnel were aware of the situation before hand that safety precautions were in place."
Final Comment: It is important to plan for and prepare for how people (students, parents, employees, staff, spectators, etc. ) may react to receiving bad news. In the ideal world, we all hope for the best in people, but real world we live in requires practical measures we must take to ensure the school environment remains a safe and controlled environment.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
2 Incidents in February of Teachers Shooting Administrators
Comment Up Front: Hindsight is always 20/20. The hiring and screening process for ALL personnel is extremely important. Having a process to handle allegations against employees is also important to balance protecting the rights of employees versus the safety of your school community. An additional factor associated with workplace violence is how people (teachers, staff, parents, students, spectators, etc) handle bad news and may lose control (immediately, at the next meeting, or after school or an event).
Shooting at Tenn Elementary School: On February 10 in Knoxville Tennessee, a disgruntled 4th grade male teacher (Mark Foster, age 48, single) shot his Principal (Elisa Luna) and Assistant Principal (Amy Brace) in school approximately one hour after the students were released because of snow. Mark Foster was arrested a short distance from the school at a roadblock where he still had his gun and five expended casings (shells). It appears the wounded teachers will survive. The apparent motive was his teaching contract was not going to be renewed for the following year coupled with allegations of past mental instability.
Shooting at Univ of Alabama: On Feb 13 in Huntsville, Alabama, a female Harvard educated neurobiology professor (Amy Bishop Anderson, age 42, mother) shot six people killing three people (chairperson and two fellow faculty members) and wounded three others faculty members. the shooting took place at a biology department meeting in a room full of colleagues. She had recently been denied tenure which appears to be the motive coupled with emerging instability and past incidents of violence.
- Often people feel embarrassed or akward about admitting that a person(s) or a situation scares, intimidates, or makes them feel uncomfortable so they ignore or deny that. Telling a colleague or a supervisor that "someone" makes you nervous, scared, or uncomfortable is a PRUDENT thing to do be it as a precaution or specific protocol. Requesting another person be in the room during the face-to-face transmission of bad knews and alerting a supervisor, and a school resource officer (SRO) or security personnel. The bad news can be someone being fired, student suspended, let go due to budget cuts, or not allowed into a sporting event.
Shooting at Tenn Elementary School: On February 10 in Knoxville Tennessee, a disgruntled 4th grade male teacher (Mark Foster, age 48, single) shot his Principal (Elisa Luna) and Assistant Principal (Amy Brace) in school approximately one hour after the students were released because of snow. Mark Foster was arrested a short distance from the school at a roadblock where he still had his gun and five expended casings (shells). It appears the wounded teachers will survive. The apparent motive was his teaching contract was not going to be renewed for the following year coupled with allegations of past mental instability.
- Post shooting hindsight: Information gathered after the shooting have highlighted that Anthony Foster (the shooter's brother) had a protection order against his brother. Also, Anthony Foster had sent a number of anonymous emails to the school superintendent and principal discussing the teacher's instability and past mental issues.
Shooting at Univ of Alabama: On Feb 13 in Huntsville, Alabama, a female Harvard educated neurobiology professor (Amy Bishop Anderson, age 42, mother) shot six people killing three people (chairperson and two fellow faculty members) and wounded three others faculty members. the shooting took place at a biology department meeting in a room full of colleagues. She had recently been denied tenure which appears to be the motive coupled with emerging instability and past incidents of violence.
- Post shooting hindsight: At the age of 19, she was charged with "accidentally" killing her brother with a shotgun in their home following an argument. The police record for this shooting were "lost". Her mother was on the police personnel board during that time period generating suspicions her records were lost. The police didn't question her for 11 days since she was hysterical and she was released by order of the then police chief. According to her husband she was also a suspect in a 1993 bombing investigation at Harvard but was cleared of charges.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Standardized Approaches to Incidents at your School
Bottom Line Up Front: You need to understand NIMS, All Hazard Approach, ICP, and EM Cycle to have a prepared School community!!!!
Background: Following the attacks of Sept 11, 2001 our nation reconfigured how it organized, planned, prepared, and responded to incidents whether they be man-made or natural occurences. There has been significant reorganization and revisiting stategy, education, training, operations, and most importantly establishing a preparedness mindset in everyone. The changes started at the federal level (DHS: Dept of Homeland Security) and then trickled down to the state level (State Public Safety / Emergency Management /Homeland Security), and eventually the local level (City Emergency Managers). The DHS developed the National Incident Management System (NIMS: listed on the FEMA link above) . We will discuss the following concepts in future blogs:
Understanding and eventually incorporating these concepts will allow you to develop a holistic approach to school preparedness at your school that will provide you the opportunity to apply for federal and state grants and make you school and its inhabitants more safe and secure regardless of what occurs. PREPAREDNESS IS NOT SOMETHING DONE FOR YOU BY OTHERS, IT IS WHAT YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY DOES FOR ITSELF. You must take ownership of your school's preparedness.
Background: Following the attacks of Sept 11, 2001 our nation reconfigured how it organized, planned, prepared, and responded to incidents whether they be man-made or natural occurences. There has been significant reorganization and revisiting stategy, education, training, operations, and most importantly establishing a preparedness mindset in everyone. The changes started at the federal level (DHS: Dept of Homeland Security) and then trickled down to the state level (State Public Safety / Emergency Management /Homeland Security), and eventually the local level (City Emergency Managers). The DHS developed the National Incident Management System (NIMS: listed on the FEMA link above) . We will discuss the following concepts in future blogs:
- National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- Incident Command Post (ICP)
- All Hazard Approach
- Emergency Management cycle
- School preparedness stakeholder collaboration at all levels
Understanding and eventually incorporating these concepts will allow you to develop a holistic approach to school preparedness at your school that will provide you the opportunity to apply for federal and state grants and make you school and its inhabitants more safe and secure regardless of what occurs. PREPAREDNESS IS NOT SOMETHING DONE FOR YOU BY OTHERS, IT IS WHAT YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY DOES FOR ITSELF. You must take ownership of your school's preparedness.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Feb 7: 9th Grader Shot In School by Classmate in Alabama
February 7, 2010: 9th Grader Shot, Killed by Classmate at Alabama Middle School
A male ninth grade Discovery Middle School student was shot in the head by a classmate Feb. 5. The alleged shooter has been arrested and charged with murder. The incident occurred just before 2 p.m. in a hallway. According to WHNT News, a school resource officer on campus immediately responded, and firefighters were on the scene within two minutes. The victim, 15-year-old Todd Brown, was then rushed to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries. The campus was placed on lockdown, and at 3 p.m., students were released to their parents. Police are investigating what led to the incident. The shooter has been charged with murder.
A community meeting was held Sunday, Feb. 7, where school officials told attendees that a community support line has been established. It will be staffed by volunteers trained in counseling starting Feb. 8.
Additionally, a number of handouts were distributed on how parents should talk to their children about the tragedy. Links to those handouts can be found at www.madisoncity.k12.al.us. The school system will be setting up a link on its Web site where students, parents, and other concerned citizens can submit suggestions and ideas for the joint task force that will be looking into ways to improve.
A male ninth grade Discovery Middle School student was shot in the head by a classmate Feb. 5. The alleged shooter has been arrested and charged with murder. The incident occurred just before 2 p.m. in a hallway. According to WHNT News, a school resource officer on campus immediately responded, and firefighters were on the scene within two minutes. The victim, 15-year-old Todd Brown, was then rushed to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries. The campus was placed on lockdown, and at 3 p.m., students were released to their parents. Police are investigating what led to the incident. The shooter has been charged with murder.
A community meeting was held Sunday, Feb. 7, where school officials told attendees that a community support line has been established. It will be staffed by volunteers trained in counseling starting Feb. 8.
Additionally, a number of handouts were distributed on how parents should talk to their children about the tragedy. Links to those handouts can be found at www.madisoncity.k12.al.us. The school system will be setting up a link on its Web site where students, parents, and other concerned citizens can submit suggestions and ideas for the joint task force that will be looking into ways to improve.
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