Community Story: Missy Dodds
March 5, 2020 / by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation
We often hear from people who’ve been through the kinds of tragedies we spend our lives trying to prevent and helping others prepare for. These stories reinforce our mission even as they break our hearts over and over again. We share them with Love and Hope.
This is Missy’s Story In Her Own Words
My name is Missy Dodds. I am a survivor of the Red Lake School shooting on March 21, 2005. I was teaching math in the classroom where the shooting took place. The only way the shooter entered my room was due to a glass panel beside my classroom door. My door lock was shot, melted, and held. In fact, the only way EMS could get into my room in the aftermath was by ripping the door frame from the wall.
At the time of the shooting, Red Lake did not have a plan for the aftermath. It was absolute chaos both outside the building and inside the building. I first ran out of my room and out of the front door. There I walked around in a daze trying to help students find parents and holding students who lost loved ones in my room. After a while, law enforcement needed help with identifying the victims in my room. I did go back in and help.
From there I went into the office where I helped to notify families of the victims. It was chaotic as well, we couldn’t find correct phone numbers for students and teachers, the computer system was down and we were digging through boxes of papers. There was no one “in charge” there was no plan. My husband still has nightmares from watching all of the parents looking for their babies outside that day.
My experience is a prime example of how important your SRP is for schools. Although I did not go back to teaching after the shooting, my children are now school age. I am getting more involved in school safety these days. My children’s district is “rethinking” school safety and I will be encouraging the use of the SRP and the SRM methods.
As a survivor and now as a parent, the methods you have developed make so much sense. I would like to thank you and your family for all the hard work and dedication you have given and continue to give school safety. The “I Love You Guys” Foundation is absolutely amazing.
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Categories: All, Community Stories
Written by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation
