• I’m a proud mother a precocious little girl who’s turning 5 in June and attending kindergarten in August. My daughter, Para, is already gearing up for the first day of school. She’s practicing her ABC’s, how to write her name, and how to share with others. Never in all my life did it think her father and I would have to add how to deal with an active shooter to that list. Para’s father and I have already visited Para’s new school, and academics wasn’t top of mind for us; it was safety. We want to know what they are doing to keep the kids safe, and if they are doing enough.

Like many schools, this one has a mix of security protocols. Someone in the office had to buzz us in, they scanned our licenses, and took our picture. Our guide during the tour shared that teachers are required to keep their windows locked at all times. Still, I question whether it’s enough, not just at Para’s new school but at all schools.

Working in the world of corporate ethics and compliance for the past decade has taught me that visibility leads to knowledge. One of my favorite quotes is from Confucius, “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.” I think many of the school systems across the US have a blind spot and do not realize that what worked yesterday may not work today, and certainly will not work tomorrow.

Since the Columbine massacre in 1999 schools have conducted lockdown or active shooter drills. There are tons of articles and studies that question whether existing lockdown procedures are sufficient. I find myself agreeing with people like former SWAT officer Greg Crane, founder of the ALICE Training Institute, stating that it is not enough. What Mr. Crane’s organization is doing for schools is a great thing and very needed. However, schools still can do more.