Response | Take Action | Resources
The members of our Principal Recovery Network have written a powerful letter begging elected officials to do something to prevent our kids and educators from being murdered in school.
Response
We are members of a club that no one wants to join. Yet, our membership keeps growing.
We are the Principal Recovery Network, a group of school leaders who have lived through shootings at each of our schools. We constantly relive one of the worst days of our lives because we have taken it upon ourselves to reach out to principals who have experienced a shooting at their schools and help them navigate a path we all unfortunately have been down.
The tragedy at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, was the 27th school shooting this year and one of hundreds since the massacre at Columbine High School 23 years ago. These horrific acts have compelled us to speak out. They compel us to act.
To every elected leader at every level of government, you have a duty to do everything it takes to prevent our kids and educators from being murdered in school. Time and time again, we have come to you to prevent future shootings. If you don’t act now, this will happen again.
We beg you: Do something. Do anything. This is a bipartisan issue. Protect our students. Protect our educators. Protect our schools. Violence extends well beyond our campuses. We ask you to act and to do the right thing — protect our communities.
Michael Bennett, former Assistant Principal, Columbia High School, East Greenbush, NY
Elizabeth Brown, Principal, Forest High School, Ocala, FL
Frank DeAngelis, former Principal, Columbine High School, Littleton, CO
Lauren Ford, former Principal, Procter R. Hug High School, Reno, NV
Andy Fetchik, former Principal, Chardon High School, Chardon, OH
Denise Fredericks, Principal, Townville Elementary School, Townville, SC
Kathleen Gombos, Principal, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, CT
Patricia Greer, former Principal, Marshall County High School, Benton, KY
Warman Hall, former Principal, Aztec High School, Aztec, NM
Jake Heibel, Principal, Great Mills High School, Great Mills, MD
Matthew Hicks, former Assistant Principal, Noblesville West Middle School, Noblesville, IN
Greg Johnson, Principal, West Liberty-Salem High School, West Liberty, OH
Michelle Kefford, Principal, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, FL
Andy McGill, Assistant Principal, West Liberty-Salem High School, West Liberty, OH
Kevin Lein, former Principal, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, SD
Jeff Meisenheimer, Principal, Lee’s Summit North High School, Lee’s Summit, MO
George Roberts, former Principal, Perry Hall High School, Baltimore, MD
Ryan Rollinger, Principal, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, SD
Michael Sedlak, former Assistant Principal, Chardon High School, Chardon, OH
Ty Thompson, former Principal, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, FL
Stacey Ting, Principal, Sparks Middle School, Sparks, NV
Stand with members of the Principal Recovery Network
Add your voice. Urge elected leaders to do something to protect our students, educators, schools, and communities.
Resources
The following sites have provided resources for schools, parents and communities affected by gun violence.
American Federation of Teachers
Facing History and Ourselves
- Teaching in the wake of violence
- Fostering civil discourse
- After Parkland, students choose to participate
Learning for Justice
Chalkbeat
National Education Association
New York Times Learning Network
- Responding to the shooting in Uvalde
- Resources for talking and teaching about the school shooting in Florida
- Tips for talking to children about the shooting
Sandy Hook Promise