“Kids need connection. Kids need trusted adults that they can talk to, and they need systems that are going to respond. That’s going to prevent a lot more crisis and tragedy than security measures will.”
Those words really struck me after another heartbreaking school shooting, this time at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon.
They also reinforce something we’ve been talking about here in TCAPS: school safety is about more than doors, locks, cameras and secure entrances.
It’s also about relationships, belonging and connection.
Student wellbeing and connectedness are priorities in our 2030 Vision.
We look at connectedness in tangible ways, including whether students have a trusted adult at school and whether they participate in extracurricular activities that help them build relationships and feel like they belong.
That matters for learning, attendance, mental health and wellbeing. And connection is also an important part of creating safe schools.
Our students need our counselors, social workers, school success liaisons, teachers, coaches, principals and other adults who know them, notice when something changes and can help connect them with support.
They also need opportunities — athletics, clubs, music, arts and other extracurriculars — that give them a place to belong and people to belong with.
That was also an important lesson from our local Safer Kids, Safer Schools Task Force following the tragedy in Uvalde.
Physical security and emergency preparedness absolutely matter. But we can’t simply “fortify” our way to safety. Prevention also means building relationships, creating belonging and having systems in place to respond when someone needs help.
No single strategy can prevent every tragedy.
School safety requires layers — physical security, preparedness, communication, mental health and behavioral supports, and strong relationships throughout our schools.
As we continue working toward our 2030 Vision, I’ll keep asking:
• Does every student have at least one trusted adult at school they know they can turn to?
• Does every student have opportunities to participate in activities that help them build relationships and feel connected to their school community?
Those are important measures of whether our students feel they belong.
Because connection isn’t just something that’s nice to have. It is essential for helping students thrive — and part of creating schools where students feel known, supported, and safe.
My heart breaks for the students, families, educators and entire Bend community.
Read more:
New York Times coverage of the Silver Rail Elementary shooting: https://nyti.ms/3U3rgCU
Our TCAPS 2030 Vision: https://bit.ly/tcaps-values
Safer Kids, Safer Schools final report: https://bit.ly/47CMz23
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