The principal of a California elementary school was recently placed on administrative leave for allegedly “pretending to shoot” students during an unsanctioned and disturbing active shooter drill on Wednesday. KTLA report.
Principal Nina Denson of San Gabriel’s Washington Elementary School was reportedly forced to take a leave of absence after witnesses said she conducted a mock drill in which she made finger gun gestures and pretended to shoot children.
Jennifer Chavez, one of the parents, said:[Denson] She walked around campus pretending to shoot people she saw by moving her fingers and banging on windows. ”
“From what I heard, she said to one of the students, ‘Boom,’ you’re dead,” Chavez added.
Denson joined the faculty as principal in the fall of 2023, but parents are now calling her out, saying her actions in the recent incident were inappropriate and even traumatic for young children. They are asking that he be permanently removed from his post. A student as young as four years old reportedly also witnessed her training.
Chavez said her son, a first-grader, was “really upset.”
“One shocking and surprising thing he said when he was 6 years old was, ‘I’m so glad none of my friends died,'” Chavez told KTLA.
“I don’t want her to come back here at all,” Chavez continued. “She is not trusted by the community.”
After the drill ended, Denson announced that seven children had died, according to other school officials.
Another parent, Anna Bustamante, told the news outlet: “Just thinking, “Oh my god, my friend was killed,” or “I was told he was shot dead,” is a huge trauma for these kids.” Can you imagine what it would be like to experience that?”
“It was very upsetting because these children are young,” she said.
San Gabriel Unified School District Superintendent Jim Simmons said the district does not allow mock drills.
“This type of training in which the scenario was played out is neither approved by the district nor part of the district’s protocols,” he said.
Parents received a letter from district officials claiming that “the conduct of the training does not appear to be in accordance with district protocols and best practices.” The district also announced that a veteran teacher at the school will serve as interim principal while the investigation into the incident is ongoing. Officials told KTLA that counselors were on the school campus to provide services to students and staff.
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