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A school shooting — It’s every teacher’s worst nightmare. Yet, school shootings have become so common that teachers cannot help but wonder how they might respond if such an event occurred at their school.
But wondering about your response does no good when nightmares become reality. It’s critical that schools plan for active shooter events with urgency, training teachers and staff to respond effectively.
A lot of training goes into an effective response, but there are 4 basic things teachers should know in order to be prepared for an active shooter event.
In an active shooter situation, a teacher’s primary response should be to protect students. Even though the entire school, including students, have gone through active shooter training sessions and drills, these drills were most likely conducted under the assumption that teachers should respond on behalf of their students.
Certainly, there is strength in numbers, and the goal in an active shooter situation is to ensure everyone’s survival. However, if someone is going to assume the role of rushing the shooter or attempting to obtain the weapon, it should be a trained teacher or staff member. That’s where practical skills such as disarming a gunman are invaluable. Disarming is a skill that can easily be learned if taught by and practiced with a professional instructor.
If an active shooter is inside your school, you must make the decision to either get out or barricade and fortify your classroom. Regardless of which action you take, it’s important for you to know the floor plan of the school extremely well — so well that you could give clear verbal directions to and from anywhere in the school if necessary. Active shooter events are chaotic and unpredictable, and there are a variety of scenarios where having the ability to give accurate directions could be a lifesaving skill.
Another thing to keep in mind is that hiding is not the same as barricading and fortifying. Hiding makes you a sitting duck. A barricade serves as protection between you and the shooter. For a quick breakdown of how to respond in an active shooter situation, check out our quick reference guide for teachers.
Know where the kit is and how to use the items inside. Every classroom in a school should have a Bleeding Control Kit on hand. If yours doesn’t, do your part to implement a policy and effect this change. Even if the classroom next to yours has a kit, there’s a strong possibility that you wouldn’t be able to safely get to and from that classroom in the middle of an active shooting. Not to mention, a person can bleed out in just 2-4 minutes, so every second counts.
You already know active shooter situations are unpredictable, but we cannot let unpredictability keep us from responding. That’s why it’s so important to be able to improvise. Maybe you have one tourniquet, but there are two victims with severe bleeding. Someone who’s willing to improvise will not ask the question, “Which victim will I treat?” but rather, “What can I use to make a second tourniquet?” Improvising — in this case, using what you have on hand to create a makeshift tourniquet — could save a life.
When it comes to self defense weapons, improvising could again save your life and others. In a school setting, it’s unlikely that you will have access to traditional weapons, but that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. There are no doubt various items around your classroom and throughout your school that you could use to defend yourself. You just have to be willing and ready to improvise.
The ability to improvise is just one of the many skills ProActive Response Group teaches in their Active Shooter Training Classes. To learn more about these courses for you school, contact us today at (888) 512-3530, or click on the banner below to leave us a message online.
Jim served as a Sheriff’s Deputy in Illinois for 30 years. During his time as a Deputy, Jim served on the SWAT team as an operator, team leader and Commander. Jim was involved in several barricaded gunman/hostage incidents as well as service of high risk arrest and search warrants.
Jim was a member of the US Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force where he performed surveillance and fugitive apprehension. His team was responsible for thousands of high risk felony fugitive arrests. Jim also served in the patrol division where he earned the rank of Sergeant and was responsible for patrol operations. Jim received numerous awards throughout his career to include Deputy of the Year, medal of valor and unit citation for SWAT operations.
Jim was a state certified CQB (Close Quarter Battle) SWAT instructor as well as an Active Shooter Response instructor, providing training for multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Illinois.
I’m a proven leader with a diverse background in defense, law enforcement, and emergency response. My career began as a Scout Sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps, where I earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. I then served as a security contractor in Afghanistan and Iraq, further developing my tactical and crisis management skills.
Domestically, I served as a Deputy for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, earning a Medal of Valor, and as a firefighter, where I was awarded a Life Saving Ribbon. These roles reflect my commitment to safety and service, demonstrating leadership under pressure and a passion for protecting others.
As part of the Proactive Response Group Team, I design and deliver comprehensive medical training, developing lesson plans and conducting hands-on sessions. I ensure that participants are equipped with essential medical skills, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and readiness. My role is vital in preparing our team to handle medical emergencies confidently and competently.
Email: jpregel16@gmail.com
Phone: 720-382-3184
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-pregel-67765451/
Chris is a retired Major from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina. Chris was third in command over operations, overseeing more than 300 sworn Deputies as well as all special teams within the Sheriff’s Office. In 2012, Chris helped to organize a Dignitary Protection Team within the Sheriff’s Office that assisted the Secret Service with Presidential and Vice Presidential visits throughout the state. In addition to his normal duties, Chris performs private security for dignitaries, celebrities, as well as 12 years with the Miss America Organization. Chris has been instructing Active shooter Response with ProActive Response Group since 2021.
In his down time, Chris enjoys time with his wife and daughter, as well as watching sports and fishing.
Email: ctaylor@proactiverg.com
Phone: 864-979-0978
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-taylor-331b00150/
Tyrie Fowler is an Active Shooter Response instructor at Proactive Response Group and an Emergency Medicine Trauma Nurse at Prisma Health in Greenville. A Greenville native, Tyrie earned his Exercise Science degree from the University of South Carolina and his nursing degree from Mary Black School of Nursing. He joined Greenville Health System in 2015, transitioning from Orthopedic Trauma to Emergency Medicine. At Prisma Health, a Level One Trauma Center, he is part of the Trauma Nurse Leader team, with training in Advanced Trauma Care (ATCN) and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC). Tyrie is pursuing certifications in Emergency Nursing (CEN) and Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN).
Tyrie enjoys Fall for its long runs, college football (Go Gamecocks!), and hunting, including deer and quail. He also loves smoking recipes with a creative twist. As a medical instructor, Tyrie empowers bystanders to provide critical assistance in emergencies, teaching them to control bleeding and manage injuries, ensuring they leave his class confident in making a difference.
Steven J. Anderson is currently an Active Shooter Response Instructor for ProActive Response Group; he enjoys empowering people to survive in life threatening situations. Steve grew up in central Minnesota and spent three years with the United States Army. He graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. Steve worked as a federal agent for the United States Border Patrol where he was a member of the U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC): completing multiple assignments in Central & South America, an assignment with the United Nations and the Deputy Director (A) of the National Air Security Operation Center. In 2020 he retired from working in Federal Law Enforcement.
In his spare time he enjoys the outdoors especially bow hunting. Steve is a proud husband and father to 3 wonderful daughters.
Rob is originally from Louisville, CO. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2003 and served as a Combat Engineer Officer until 2012. Rob deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009 and 2010 where he planned and implemented force protection strategy, counter improvised explosive device operations, and mobility operations for Third Battalion Sixth Marine Regiment and Third Battalion Seventh Marine Regiment . Upon his departure from the military, Rob began to teach firearms and tactics with Arizona based Alpine Arms while simultaneously running his own small residential security consulting firm. Rob relocated the South Carolina in 2021 and joined ProActive Response Group in early 2023.
When not working Rob spends time with his wife Lindsey and son Theo. He enjoys stand up paddle boarding, visiting the rifle range, four wheeling, and camping.
Phone: 720-382-3184
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-christian-29579649/
Andy Sexton spent 12 years with the Greenville County Sheriff’s office in South Carolina, where he held the rank of Uniform Patrol Sergeant. His experience includes serving as an assistant SWAT team leader, involvement in high-risk incidents, including hostage rescues and the protection of dignitaries, working in criminal investigations (including armed robbery and homicide), and serving on the training committee for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.
