Mary Welander joined Sandy Hook Promise to highlight the importance of identifying at-risk behaviors and intervening early at a meeting June 13 of the Federal Commission on School Safety in Washington, DC. The listening session included students, teachers, school safety personnel, administrators, law enforcement and professionals covering all aspects of student safety, health and security from across the country.
Welander is the Democrat-endorsed candidate for the State House of Representatives in the 114th district, which includes parts of Orange. She is a SHP Connecticut Promise Leader Ambassador, Orange school board member, and mother of three, highlighted the importance of teaching students, teachers and parents the signs of at-risk behaviors and how to properly intervene before violence occurs. SHP’s proven Know the Signs programs have been instrumental in averting numerous school shooting plots, other acts of violence, suicides, and acts of self-harm at school across the nation.
“This commission and conversation is important to ensure the needs of our schools and communities are heard, but it must also be met with meaningful action by the administration and Congress,” Welander said. “As a parent and Promise Leader, I urged our leaders to take the much-needed steps to protect our children and make our schools safe through strong investment in violence prevention programs and school mental health services that will help curb violence long before a threat comes to our schools.”
Welander said schools in Orange, Woodbridge and Derby can utilize the SHP model to encourage the recognition of at-risk behavior.
“This is a national discussion, but every school district, every parent and every educator is listening. The conversations in Washington were the same conversations we are having in Orange. But we need to make sure the FCSS follows through with meaningful action,” Welander said.