A California elementary school principal was placed on leave for conducting an unauthorized drill in which she allegedly pretended to shoot students, and even said seven children were “killed,” according to a report.
Nina Denson, principal at Washington Elementary School in San Gabriel, conducted the deranged active shooter lockdown drill on Wednesday, KTLA reported.
“She proceeded to walk around campus and pretend to shoot people she saw using finger movements and banging on windows,” parent Jennifer Chavez told the outlet.
“From what I heard, she said to one of the students, ‘Boom! You’re dead!’” she said.
Some of the children who witnessed the terrifying incident were reportedly as young as 4 years old.
“Oh, he was really upset,” Chavez said of his first-grade son. “The only shocking and surprising thing he said when he was 6 years old was, ‘I’m so glad none of my friends died.’”
Employees said Denson even announced that seven students were “killed” in the drill.
Nina Denson, a California elementary school principal, has been suspended for conducting an unauthorized active shooter drill in which she allegedly pretended to shoot students. Nina Denson/Facebook Washington Elementary School Principal Nina Denson has been placed on leave for conducting an unauthorized active shooter drill in which she allegedly pretended to shoot students. Nina Denson/Facebook
“Can you imagine the trauma these kids could go through just thinking, ‘Oh my God, they killed my friend,’ or ‘They shot me and told me I died,'” another mother, Anna Bustamante, told KTLA.
“The young age of these children was very disturbing,” he added.
District Superintendent Jim Symonds said the drill was unauthorized.
Denson allegedly announced that seven children had been “killed” during the mock attack. KTLA parents are calling for her removal from office. KTLA
“This type of drill in which a scenario was carried out is not approved by the district nor is it part of our district protocol,” he told the outlet.
The district reportedly told parents in an email, “Conducting the drill does not appear to have been in line with the district’s protocols or best practices.”
An investigation was launched and a veteran teacher took over as interim principal, but some parents are calling for Denson to be removed.
Nina Denson San Gabriel Unified/X
“I don’t want her to come back here at all,” Chavez told KTLA. “She doesn’t have the trust of the community.”
Officials told the outlet that counselors were made available to students and employees who may have been traumatized.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn