On behalf of the Clinton PTA, I extend a heartfelt thank you to our Superintendent of Schools Maryann O’Donnell, school principals Keri Hagness and Linda Tucker, Chief of Police Vincent DeMaio, and Clinton Director of Human Services David Melillo for participating in our Keeping Our Community Safe event with Sandy Hook Promise and Nicole Hockley on March 20. It was a powerful evening of insights and takeaways. I thank them for partnering with Sandy Hook Promise to help us “Know the Signs” and prevent the tragic loss of loved ones.

Hagness and Tucker hosted the Sandy Hook Promise “Say Something” school assemblies last November. Students learned how to recognize flags, and how and when to say something without being a snitch. To quote Hockley, “Our kids are the ones who have the power to make change.”

The most recent loss of two more Parkland students and Jeremy Richman, father of a Newtown victim, once again emphasize the importance of the Sandy Hook Promise Know the Signs Prevention programs.

For those who missed the event, we encourage them to make the promise to join the “influential majority” (as Hockley called us) to make a difference. Visit clintonpta.org for the video recording and download the Sandy Hook Promise Parent Guide, and discuss it with family and friends. Get involved through sandyhookpomise.org. Honor Richman by supporting his foundation, aviellefoundation.org.

As Richman rightly stated, thoughts and prayers aren’t enough: “That’s not going to change anything. What I need to hear is my heart is broken, and my boots are on the ground to fix it.” Our hearts are broken. Let’s make the promise to get our boots on the ground to fix it.

Laura Colebank, Vice President

Clinton PTA