In a difficult week, the genuine voices of our parents offer great comfort and perspective. We have had heart-wrenching conversations with parents across our network this week. We wanted to share one letter from some amazing Cole parents because it sums up our overall feeling of appreciation and love for all teachers out there:
To The Faculty and Staff at DSST Cole Middle School:
Yesterday’s shooting was tragic on so many levels. We grieve for the victim and his family, and we are praying for his recovery. We grieve for the shooter and his family, whose lives will be marked by this for years. We grieve for the members of the student body, who were scared yesterday and saddened by the news. We grieve for the Cole parents who had to pray “Oh, God, don’t let it be my child!” And we grieve for the neighborhood where gunshots and violence have for decades defaced the beautiful, resilient fabric of this community.
At the heard of all of these things we also grieve for you, the teachers and staff who have embraced the awesome responsibility of loving and teaching and guarding a generation. We cannot imagine the fear of being in a classroom on lockdown while somebody with a gun is outside. We hope we would be as courageous and clear-minded as you were. Our kids told us of at least one of you who said, “You’re going to be safe. If anyone comes through that door, I’ll start throwing chairs, and you all go out the back.” We know all of you either had similar conversations or had to plan for the unthinkable in those moments. And we want you to know that we are humbled by your actions and deeply honored to have you in our lives.
You all performed heroically yesterday. We know there are those, unfortunately, who will be happy to point at perceived flaws and tell you things you should have done differently. We also know that complaints are often gifts, and because of that we know you will benefit by listening to them- and we know you will listen. But we don’t think you should listen too much. Don’t listen to the extent that it leaves you wondering if anybody noticed all the things you got right. Don’t listen so much that you become discouraged or wearied by the anger or frustration of those who weren’t there. Let the useless words fall by the wayside, grab onto the handful of words that carry the opportunity for you to improve, and keep your heads high. You did an amazing job yesterday, and you should be proud of your entire team.
We are parents of current DSST students, and 13 of our kids will have been on the Cole campus by the time they all finish their schooling. We have lived and pastored in this neighborhood for over a decade, and we have been here long enough to see people move in and then move out when things got scary or hard. We have also been here long enough to have earned some credibility when we say that we believe in what you are doing, and we hope you will continue doing it for many years to come. We owe you a debt of gratitude that is beyond our ability to repay. You signed up for this. You signed up to walk into our neighborhood, to love our kids, to teach them, and to put their lives ahead of yours. There is nobody more qualified to lead them and teach them than you are, because there is nobody else who walked with them through yesterday’s frightening events. You have earned a sacred place in our lives and we are standing with and behind you as you lead a school forward. We love you. We are so very grateful for you. And we are here for you if you need anything at all.
With love and gratitude,
Josh and Katie Larsen
Juan and Courtney Peña
Jason and Jennifer Janz