WHIO-TV
Local teachers train to handle active shooters
By Jackie Borchardt 

Teachers are in class today, but not to educate others — they are the students. 

Today is the first of five regional courses being taught around the state of Ohio to instruct school workers, including teachers, how to handle an active shooter situation. 

Attorney General Mike DeWine said his office began preparing the courses after a school shooting in Chardon in northeast Ohio last year. DeWine said interest in the courses has been “heavy” since announced last month and more sessions will be added as long as there is interest. Courses could expand further by teaching others to provide the training in their school districts. 

The classes were made available to area educators and school staff after the December shooting in December in Newtown, Conn., in which teachers, school staff members and 20 students were killed by a gunman. 

More than 200 people registered for today’s course in Columbus. it is provided by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. Training includes a look into the minds of serial killers and signs for which to watch. 

Officials said classes will be conducted in the Dayton and Cincinnati region in February. 

DeWine told educators in the Thursdsay morning session that they will be the first responders in shooting situations and the active shooter course is one tool. 

“No one should think what we’re trying to do will eliminate the problem,” DeWine said. 

Tim Johnson, assistant principal at Kettering Middle School, said every teacher should know what is taught in the course. Johnson attended Thursday morning’s session and plans to share the information with other Kettering administrators as part of their efforts to make schools safer. 

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