Diane, I feel broken. Ms. Soto, the heroic teacher from Sandy Hook, was exactly my age. People in their late 20’s don’t have to consider their own mortality on a regular basis, and this has me quite shook up. I keep pondering whether I’d be as brave as she was, or if I would think of my own daughter and hide right along side the students.

A colleague and friend made an interesting observation Friday. She said that as high school teachers, we have it in the back of our minds that something like this could happen. We know the secret exits through the school and have hiding spots in our classrooms, complete with window blockers. It’s a scary concept, but we’re somewhat prepared.

Not one of my elementary school teacher friends has a plan in place for a catastrophe of this magnitude, and why should they? This is unprecedented. Since Columbine, this has been a high school/college problem. As demented as this sounds, I’m sickened that now even babies have to worry about deranged gun men in their schools.