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To the Northwest Regional Education Service District community -
The 27th school shooting this school year just extinguished at least 19 beautiful lives.
“Only in this country are parents not assured that their kids will be safe at school,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, a national union representing 1.7 million members, said in a statement. “Gun violence is a cancer, and it’s one that none of us should tolerate for one single moment longer. We have made a choice to let this continue, and we can make a choice to finally do something — do anything — to put a stop to this madness.”
In 2020, gun deaths surpassed auto accidents as the leading cause of death for children ages 1-19. I am personally exhausted from issuing all-too-familiar responses to gun violence in schools that lead nowhere. While educators everywhere absolutely send our thoughts and prayers to Uvalde students, families and community members, we also need to hold our leaders accountable to long overdue promises of ending school violence.
Within this exhaustion, here is what I can think to offer in terms of suggested action and community support during this incredibly tragic event.
- Check in with your students or those who might be struggling at this time. Our partners at Hillsboro School District put together a thoughtful list of resources to support children with grief and violence.
- Get involved with advocacy organizations and/or write the people who represent you in state and federal government to insist on policies that keep our schools safe.
- If you see something that concerns you, PLEASE anonymously share concerns/tips through the SafeOregon tipline.
If you have more ideas of resources we should be sharing, please email those to communications@nwresd.k12.or.us.
There are no right words. This violent attack in Texas is truly heartbreaking. I know our NWRESD community has Uvalde educators and families in our hearts -
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