AWSP Blog

The holidays are upon us! Many of us are gathering with loved ones, and the children have time off from school for holiday breaks. Let’s all work to keep our loved ones safe this season.

School leaders are uniquely positioned to help educate parents about firearms, particularly safe storage. Securing firearms is a sensible way to prevent curious kids from handling firearms, preventing accidents and suicides. While most gun owners responsibly lock up their guns, increasing awareness through you, your parent organization, and your school district will help build stronger, safer communities. In advance of October School Safety Month, we want to bring some resources to your attention as you consider increasing awareness about gun safety.

This will be my last AWSP School Safety Blog. I am retiring as of December 31, 2022. I have been involved in K-12 education since…. well, let’s just say it’s been a long time. It has been a fulfilling, powerful journey. It has been interesting, as well.  A recent conversation underscores just a part of what has made it interesting.

It’s November. It’s dark and rainy. Elections are coming up. Daylight Savings Time is ending. Veterans’ Day is approaching. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Let’s go there now.

A topic that has permeated many discussions with school leaders, students, and community members over the past several years has been vaping. With a rise in students vaping, specifically in schools, the stress of figuring out how to 'solve' this epidemic has fallen on our teachers, counselors, community members, school leaders, and students. Recently, we met with the AWSL Student Voice Network and asked them to weigh in on what we can start doing, stop doing, and keep doing to find solutions for this ongoing issue.