We. Refuse. To. Normalize. This.
This month marked 27 years since the tragedy at Columbine High School. Since this horrific monumental event, there have been 435 school shootings and more than 380,000 children have been impacted by gun violence at school (Washington Post, 2026). Just this month alone, there were horrific acts of gun violence that have left school communities reeling from the impact. From the heartbreaking shootings of children in Shreveport, to the violence near the campuses of University of Iowa and Indiana University, the tragedy at an Ohio high school, the gunfire that disrupted the peace of a park near a middle school in North Carolina — and these are only the ones that made the news.
These events aren’t just headlines; they’re reminders of the ongoing vulnerability we face in places we should feel safe — malls, downtown areas, schools, homes, and now, even the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. In other countries, one horror changes gun laws — Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Finland, Canada. But we as a nation refuse to enact common sense laws that are proven to keep children and families safe.
Guns are the leading cause of death for kids and teens in America. For the approximately 4 million teachers in this country, the weight of this public health crisis is heavy. An average of 57 incidents of gun violence occur every day in or just beyond the school gates (The Trace, 2024).
Take some time to listen to our Teachers Unify Podcast episodes that feature Columbine educator survivors—Kiki Leyba and Paula Reed. Both have been influential in supporting teachers, school staff, students, and families in the aftermath of gun violence.
Thank you for standing with us as we amplify the realities of educators and school staff who navigate the fears and experiences of gun violence. We know kids best. We demand a seat at the table where decisions are made. We will never normalize this travesty of inaction.
Join our Teachers Unify Community Monthly Meeting on April 29th at 7pm EST!
Hear from the experiences and lessons learned of Teachers Unify Ithaca leaders — retired public school teachers who are leading the charge to get secure firearm storage education disseminated through their local school district. Their strategy, resiliency, and determination is inspiring — register HERE to join this vital conversation!
Teachers Unify Ithaca
Follow us on social media @teachersunify for updates! Reach out to the organizers, Liesl and Sydney, at community@teachersunify.org.
We’re #StrongerTogether!
Empower the Next Generation of Voters with Feel Good Action on April 28th!
National Preregistration Day on April 28th is a nationwide day of action focused on supporting 16- and 17-year-olds as they take their first step into civic life. This is a perfect opportunity for educators and allies to guide students in becoming informed, engaged future voters who can help build and advocate for safer communities.
Check out our Substack featuring Katherine White on the importance of educators in civic action and the Feel Good Future: Educator Toolkit for Teen Preregistration that provides step-by-step resources.
Follow @feelgoodaction on Instagram, especially on NPD at 3pm EST, where they’ll be hosting inviting guests, including Teachers Unify, to talk about this important action.
Secure Firearm Storage:
NYC Public Schools ✅
June 2024 press conference announcing new secure firearm storage initiative with NYC public schools
For the second year in a row, Teachers Unify was a significant force in getting secure firearm storage information sent out to one million NYC public school families!
If you want to organize a local group in your community to work on a similar initiative, email us at info@teachersunify.org.
If you want to reach out to district leaders on your own, start with this app created in partnership with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Meeting with Congresswoman
Jahana Hayes
Abbey Clements and Congresswoman Hayes in her DC office.
Teachers Unify’s Executive Director Abbey Clements had the opportunity to speak with her Representative in Washington D.C. to discuss the unique challenges educators and school staff face in the fear and impact of gun violence, and the chilling reality of AI-assisted gun violence that is disproportionately affecting our youth.
Once a teacher, always a teacher! The Congresswoman (longtime former educator and 2016 National Teacher of the Year) is committed to calling on our tech companies to implement safety protocols for the safety of our students and all of us.
More Ways to Make a Difference
We’ve made it easier than ever to support our work. Our newly updated Ways to Give page is live, offering more flexible options to help you invest in safer schools and stronger educator voices.
Whether you give once, join our monthly Educators Circle, or contribute through a donor-advised fund or stock gift, every donation fuels educator-led solutions and critical support for schools and communities.
Explore the new page and find the way that’s right for you:
https://www.teachersunify.org/ways-to-give
Help Plan our Merch Campaign!
We’re preparing to launch a limited-edition merch campaign—an exclusive collection (design surprise forthcoming!) created specifically as a “thank you” for our new recurring donors.
Because you are the heart of this movement, we want you to help us shape what this collection looks like. We want to create something meaningful and powerful—something that starts conversations and supports our mission to end gun violence.
We Want to Hear from YOU!
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