As a parent who has lost her only child in tragedy, my heart breaks into a million pieces for the parents and loved ones of the Santa Fe HS victims. I can only say that the road ahead is overwhelming, painful, and devastating. My heart breaks for every child who endured that horrific event. My heart breaks for every child who is fearful to go to school and every parent who is terrified to send them.
As an educator, school counselor, principal, school leader, parent, grandparent and aunt; I beg our leaders to listen to the cries. Enough already! Something must be done. We must continue to pray for peace. We must pray for God’s guidance for our policy makers. Pray for all to feel the power of His HOPE and to cling tight to His promises of heaven and eternity. However, we must act.
Together lets demand that our school district leaders put resources in the hands of principals and counselors so they can better serve our students. Lets demand that school counselor to student ratios are lowered so that trained mental health professionals can do more than push tons of senseless paperwork demanded by the state. Lets demand that state legislators fund more support for out students in the form of more teachers, more counselors, more school psychologist. Lets demand that both our state and national leaders take the focus and funding off of high stakes testing and spend that energy and money focusing on students mental health needs (like more bully training for both bullies and victims, coping skills, empathy skills, grief counseling, group counseling, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, social skills training, stress and anxiety reducing skills). Lets demand that we look at gun control laws. Lets demand that we evaluate school safety. Lets demand answers NOW!
There is HOPE! We the people (students, parents, educators, family, friends) have the right to demand that our school, state and federal policy makers do the RIGHT thing – Protect our most precious resources, our children. They are our only legacy; they are our future. They are our hearts.
by 
Charlotte, so sorry for your loss! My prayers are with you, but more importantly is my commitment to my students and future students that they know respect, love and importance!
I have to drop my son off at Manvel High School tomorrow, or he will be counted absent, and will miss his finals. There is no guarantee that someone won’t come into the school with a gun on them. I don’t understand why Metal detectors weren’t installed this weekend. It’s done in court houses to protect people, and yet it’s a killing field in our schools and my kids aren’t important enough to protect. Something needs to be done before these kids of ours enter school in thirteen hours. Please make our school safe! I’m begging you!!!