Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Preparing Students for a Campus Lockdown

  • 10/01/18
safe kids inc

Safe Kids Inc., an organization founded by law enforcement officers and educators, is designing curriculum to teach children to recognize, avoid, and survive active shooter and violent intruder events.

The H.E.R.O. Program consists of student-facing, age-appropriate curriculum built upon Empowerment Theory with interactive, non-threatening lesson plans, that are based on original narratives for K-8 students. The program, designed to mitigate violence and empower children to take safe action during an active shooter situation, includes all-staff professional development with optional continuing education credits issued by Brandman University, a guide for students with disabilities, a drill and scenario guide for schoolwide contextual drills, along with rubrics and training records.

The first real-life test of the H.E.R.O. Program came on March 15, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. at Cathedral City Elementary School in Cathedral City, Calif. While nearly 700 K-5 students and 65 staff were going about their school day, teachers began reporting gunshots from a residential backyard that borders the school’s playground. At nearly the same time, a frantic delivery driver ran into the school’s office and reported seeing a “bloody” person driving away from the area with people running in all directions, some towards the school.

All of the K-3 students were playing at recess, and the 4th and 5th grade students were eating lunch. Fearing for the safety of her students, the principal immediately issued a lockdown order, but only K-3 students had completed the H.E.R.O. Program.

Students who had completed the H.E.R.O. Program immediately: dispersed from common outdoor areas to lockdown in classrooms; erected barricades quickly; and worked together as a team.

Older students took leadership roles and passed out “Overcome” items. Students took the situation seriously, remaining quiet and focused and greeted law enforcement when the all-clear signal as given, thanking them for their help.

safekidsinc.com

This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management October 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • A digital silhouette works at a computer, immersed in a glowing, interconnected world

    How Will AI Transform Learning Space Design?

    For years, higher education has designed learning spaces around technology as a tool for display, capture, collaboration, and connectivity. AI changes that equation.

  • Colorado School District Breaks Ground on Unified PK–12 Campus

    The Haxtun School District No. Re-2J in Haxtun, Colo., recently announced that ground has been broken on a renovation/addition project that will unite its two schools, Haxtun Elementary and Haxtun Jr/Sr High School, according to a news release.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.