Angela Hall, a teacher in Shreveport, Louisiana, starts her day by gathering her preschoolers in a circle. The children laugh, share stories, and notice who’s absent.
“Braylon, he’s not here,” one of her students remarked on Monday.
Braylon Snow, who had just turned 5, was among seven children shot by his father, who also killed a cousin.
The shooting sent shockwaves through Shreveport’s classrooms, and on Monday, teachers like Hall dealt with upset parents and a whirlwind of emotions.
At Johnnie L. Cochran Head Start, it was likely that Braylon’s absence was felt immediately. Each day, Ms. Hall encourages her students to take note of who’s missing.
“When they come back tomorrow, I can say, ‘Hey, I’ve missed you, and I’m glad you’re back,'” she tells her students.
However, Ms. Hall wasn’t ready to explain that “a cool guy,” as she called Braylon, wouldn’t be returning. She continued the circle time, enduring through the morning, feeling both numb and overwhelmed. By noon, she returned home.
“I’m not of any use to my babies right now because I feel like I need to just shut up and just pray,” she expressed.
Kindergarten preparations
Meanwhile, preparations are in full gear for the upcoming graduation ceremony at Head Start. Hall, who also plays the organ and piano at a local Baptist church, wrote a song for the event.
Students, excitedly anticipating kindergarten in the fall, are busy learning their lines for the ceremony. Hall was making sure Braylon was ready, too.
Just last Thursday, she had told Braylon’s mother about how he had proudly written his full name and had become quite independent, even pouring his own syrup without reminders.
“Braylon doesn’t give me any problems,” she had said to his mother.
Braylon would greet Ms. Hall with a little wave each day. Over time, she had worked to coax smiles from him. He loved being on the playground, playing games like tag and even having “little wrestles.” She fondly remembered these moments.
“He was a quiet little soul in class most of the time,” she said. “It was just lovely to see him smile and laugh when he got a little burst of energy.”
News of the tragedy spreads
But then Sunday arrived. After church, she visited her mother’s house and stumbled upon an article about a mass shooting.
The sheer number of victims was hard to grasp, and then she discovered Braylon was one of them. She knew one of his brothers, who had been a student at the same Head Start program last year.
“I just broke down and started crying,” she recalled.
The same sense of heartbreak hit her again on Monday morning when she locked eyes with Braylon’s parents during drop-off. Neither spoke, but there were preschoolers nearby.
“I was immediately heartbroken,” she admitted, a sentiment shared by parents and teacher aides.
Now, she’s leaning on her faith, praying for the deceased, their families, and the educators involved.
“And I just pray for all the educators who were involved with these kids, because it’s hard when their babies become my babies. I treat them like my own. So I just pray for support during this time,” she shared.
“Give us that power.”
