Teacher's powerful open letter about 'terror' of routine fire drill day after school massacre
As hundreds of people gather at a vigil to mourn the 17 children and adults gunned down at a Florida high school, a teacher at another school has written a powerful letter explaining the terror she now endures from a routine fire drill.
One day after Nikolas Cruz allegedly walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, pulled the fire alarm and gunned down his victims with an AR-15, Stephanie Kuzy Jenkins refused to let her students leave their classroom when their fire alarm sounded.
The teacher at Central High School in Georgia said her students looked at her with expressions of utter confusion when she told them to not to go outside.
In a poweful letter, she explains the fear that overcame her as she waited to hear gunshots.
"I stood in front of your children and I waited to hear gunshots," she wrote.
The full letter from teacher Stephanie Kuzy
In 7th period, out of nowhere today, the fire alarms at my school went off. My students stood up as they always do when the alarm goes off for drills.
My brain immediately went into robot mode. I recalled the incident from yesterday like a mathematician calculating a problem on a whiteboard. Zero emotions. Zero fear.
“Wait,” I said, holding up my hand. The kids froze.
“Let’s sit for now,” I said calmly. They sat, looking at me in terror.
“What if it’s like—!!!” One child cried out, but I turned, shook my head, and kept my hand held out.
“It’s not. Probably someone pulled the alarm. It’s okay. Let’s just wait.”
We waited. I kept eye contact with the teacher in the classroom across the hall from me. We both shook our heads.
Then I waited to hear gunshots.
Do you hear me?
I stood in front of your children and I waited to hear gunshots.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT????
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I didn’t want to put them in lockdown just yet. Calmness and control is the only defence I have against a room of panicked teenagers. I turned and I looked every single one of them in the eyes and I nodded my head reassuringly. You are my babies. I have you. I have you.
I kept glancing across at the teacher across from me. He shook his head. We stayed still.
Suddenly, I saw our guidance counselor in the hallway. She beckoned for us to come out. I stuck my head out and said “it’s safe?” She said “Yes, let’s go out.”
“Come on, guys,” I said. “It’s all right. We can go outside.”
They behaved wonderfully. They followed me out calmly, we evacuated, and then we stood outside for 30 minutes while fire trucks and police cars checked out our building. It was a faulty alarm. Everyone was safe.
I took my children back inside. We had a successful drill. Everyone was safe. I even made a point to update parents and community that we were all safe.
School dismissed.
The kids left, chatting excitedly how they missed half a class period.
I sat at my desk.
My little sister came in to say goodbye for the day and I lost it. Sobbing, snot coming out, face burning, nauseated.
I was waiting to hear gunshots. I was waiting to hide my kids. I was waiting for the shots.
Keep your opinions off my post. I’m home and I’m angry.
I stood in front of your kids and waited to die for them.
I STOOD IN FRONT OF YOUR KIDS AND WAITED TO DIE FOR THEM!"
