INDIANAPOLIS — Violence is making a noticeable impact on Indiana’s students, say Indiana’s top educator.
“I know just here of late, there’s just been a lot of student deaths across the state,” said Dr. Jennifer McCormick to WISH-TV. “There’s been a lot of students that, you know, the violence may not have taken their life, but they’re injured.”
Data from the Indiana Department of Education shows more than two dozen students across the state have died as a result of gun violence since September 2017.
“This year, unfortunately, we’ve seen — it seems like — an uptick in that violence that is starting to impact our students. Anytime that happens, we reach out to schools, we’re trying to be a good partner,” McCormick continued. “But I think we need to have conversations regarding (how) violence does impact families.”
McCormick said school leaders are carefully watching and having conversations. She said schools statewide are already working on proactive solutions.
“Our schools, I have a lot of faith in,” McCormick said. “They have programs in place. We’ve really been hitting that social-emotional-behavioral piece hard. We’ve been dealing a lot with competencies for our students so they have better relationships and they’re better self-aware.”
She added school safety specialists have a constant pulse on their local schools to make sure they know what the principals, teachers, counselors and bus drivers are hearing. As well as paying close attention to calls that come in.
Indiana’s Department of Education has helpful resources if you or someone you know might be a victim of violence.
