In 2004, I was in my second year as a middle school assistant principal. I had been given all responsibility for the safety of the school of over 800 students. We did monthly fire drills initiated by me. Teachers lined their students up, walked them outside, then waited for the all clear to return to their rooms. My military background had created a voice inside me that screamed that more could be done.
In the fall of 2004 I was provided an opportunity to attend the Indiana Department of Education's School Safety Specialist Academy, to work on obtaining a certification as an Indiana School Safety Specialist. For two days I listened to national-level experts like Bernie James and Dave Grossman speak on different aspects of school safety. Then Michael Dorn took to the stage for a general session on safety plans, ending with his Weakfish presentation. Bernie James is a top-notch expert on school safety law. Dave Grossman is a world-class expert on the psychology of killing and combat. Yet, I found Mike's presentation to be everything I was looking for. Sound, thorough preparedness, response and recovery concepts, a realistic approach to implementation, and through it all, a passion for protecting the innocent that called out to why I joined the Army, and why I got into education.
I left that training overwhelmed with the amount of new information I'd been given. I had a sheath of notes on school safety law, two books to read; On Killing and On Combat, and a structure for applying all of this new knowledge in a realistic, thorough way.
Over the years, I have learned a lot about school safety. Since 2004 I have been applying that knowledge to serve the children and staff of Southern Hancock Schools. Mike taught me how to create safety plans unique to each school, plans that followed best practices. He taught me to make drills more realistic, and that the responsibility for the safety of school children was not my responsibility alone, but of all adults in the building. He taught me how to conduct thorough safety and security audits, and that the best ways to make schools safer required little money, just an alteration of my mindset. Mike taught me that properly conducted school safety efforts could raise student achievement, and could help make schools feel like warm, wonderful places to learn.
As time wore on, Mike took time out from his very hectic schedule to mentor me on becoming better at what I do. He coached me on seeing the bigger picture, while still maintaining a focus on the details. He pushed me to improve my writing, resulting in the fulfillment of a life-long dream; becoming a published author. Somewhere along the way, he became a friend.
I have not had many true friends in my life. Mike Schill was a teacher at a Catholic school at which I taught. He died many years ago from mesothelioma. George Emmick was an Army buddy of mine. He was like a brother to me, and was the godfather of both of my daughters. He died a few years ago from complications of a degenerative neuropathic disease. My wife Robin is my best friend, having survived contact with me for 25 glorious years.
I have come to appreciate true friendship, and Mike is a true friend. For all he has done for me, he has never asked anything of me except to continue to strive to be better, so that I can better serve others. My life has become distinctly better for having known him, and his impact on the field of school safety is real and widespread. He is a true gentleman, and frequently shakes his head at my oft-times raw approach to dealing with various issues in life. He has had a true world-wide impact on school safety,
We can ask for nothing more from life than to leave it a better place than when we entered it. Mike has done that, in spades.
For all you've done, Mike, I thank you.
Oh, and Happy Birthday! May you have many more years of serving the children of this great country!
No comments:
Post a Comment