Teachers have to react suddenly or within seconds to save the lives of their students and their own if a shooter has entered the school. During a crisis such as this, being prepared with the knowledge and practice of what to do could make all the difference.

With school back in session, safety is on the minds of teachers, parents and students. For three years, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office has been training teachers and other school personnel so that they will know what to do in the case of a school shooter or other dangerous incident. Now, funds are being raised in order to continue the program with minimal costs to the participating teachers.

Approximately 300 teachers have gone through the training with the UCSO Teachers’ Academy since it first began three years ago. The academy is offered a couple of times each year and is a 20-hour course.

“School safety is of the utmost importance to me and the sheriff’s office. I wish this class was not relevant or even needed, but the grim reality is, it is needed,” Sheriff Mike Smith said. “Many times, people fail to act in critical incidents because they have never been trained how to act. The skills taught in this class are designed to aid teachers in developing a plan of response to a critical incident. Having a plan and knowing how to respond will save lives. Our teachers can make a difference.”

While it may seem like there is nothing that can be done in the case of a mass shooter, participants of the Teachers’ Academy learn that there is actually much they can do, which may result in lives being saved. Participants are taught critical skills that would be needed in these situations, including self-defense, tactical de-escalation, mindfulness, emergency medical techniques, weapons familiarization and shooting skills.

While the UCSO tries to keep costs for teachers low — they only pay $20 to participate — there are expenses associated with the training. “The largest expense is instructor wages. A good portion of trainer time is donated, but not all,” Smith said. “There are also costs associated with emergency medical supplies the teachers are given. The training also includes costs with ammunition, (non-lethal training) rounds and refreshments.”

Expenses for the academy are largely paid for by the UCSO Honorary Colonels, according to the organization’s president, Mike Carter. “We feel that our children’s safety and the safety of our teachers should be a top priority for Utah County. We are grateful for the opportunity to help the sheriff’s department offer this training,” he said.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were a total of 93 school shootings with casualties at public and private elementary and secondary schools during the 2020-2021 school year. That was the highest number since the center began keeping data.

So far in 2022, there have been 30 school shootings that resulted in injuries or deaths, according to Education Week. There have been 122 school shootings since 2018.

“The sheriff’s department and the Honorary Colonels want to make sure there are many trained teachers in each school who are prepared to act in the few minutes between when a shooter begins their attack and when law enforcement is able to intervene,” Carter said. “What happens in that time can make the difference between life and death for our children and teachers.”

On Oct. 7, a golf tournament will be held to raise funds for future Teachers’ Academy trainings. The tournament will be held at the Thanksgiving Point Golf Club, 3300 W. Clubhouse Drive in Lehi, beginning at 8 a.m. Individuals and foursomes are invited to play. To register, go to UCSHCgolf.com. Sponsors and items for drawings are also needed for the fundraiser. To donate money to help teachers receive this training, Venmo @UCSHColonels or text 801-420-2445.

A Teachers’ Academy is currently being held and the next one will be held in the spring. For more information, check out sheriff.utahcounty.gov.

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