Building Safety through Dialogue: A Student’s Stand Against School Gun Violence

In an era where gun violence has risen at an alarming rate in American schools, one student decided to take a stand. Motivated by the frightening rise in school shootings and a personal desire to ensure that schools remain safe havens, Colonial Forge High School senior Naa Ankrah devoted her research project to a simple but powerful idea: improving communication through a student-crafted school safety protocol pamphlet.

“I think what really motivated me to pursue this was seeing the rapid increase in gun violence, especially in schools,” says Ankrah. Gun violence has become the leading cause of death among adolescents, rising over 100% since 2013. Yet, despite this devastating trend, Ankrah noticed that meaningful conversations about preparedness were often avoided due to the topic's sensitivity.  

Naa’s research revealed a significant gap in how safety drills are communicated. Students, parents, and even staff members often feel unprepared or uninformed about what to do in the event of an emergency. “Kids shouldn't go into school and expect active shooter drills,” Naa acknowledges, “but they should be aware of the possibility and prepared, as well as parents.”

The product born from this realization was a student-safety guide, a pamphlet tailored separately for elementary, middle, and high school students. Each version provides clear, age-appropriate information about how to respond during various emergencies, from lockdowns and fires to intruder alerts. The ultimate goal of this project is to bridge the communication gap between students, families, and school officials, providing trusted resources for those seeking clarity and reassurance about their safety in educational settings.

Gathering this information wasn’t easy. Ankrah described her research and product process as one that required her to jump “through rings of fire” to verify accuracy and credibility and to gain approval to make headway with her project. Naa contacted the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services regarding state safety codes and consulted the school’s crisis management team to understand existing protocols better. Her interviews extended beyond those who could be found on Forge’s campus- including a personal conversation with an officer involved in the Virginia Tech shooting response, a detective, and a police officer familiar with public safety procedures.

Naa also met with Stafford County’s superintendent and the county’s Chief of Staff and plans to speak with the Department of Safety and Security to ensure complete alignment with county policies. Each meeting adds another layer of depth, ensuring that her pamphlet will be both informative and compliant.

While her pamphlet is currently under review, the safety guides have been praised for their initiative and potential impact. Ankrah hopes to see them distributed in the upcoming school year, sparking open dialogue about preparedness in educational settings.

Looking ahead, Ankrah envisions expanding her project into teacher-preparedness courses on school campuses or exploring ways to enhance emergency technology, such as quick-access alert buttons integrated into staff ID badges. “A quick drill that’s not taken seriously isn’t cutting it anymore,” Naa urges, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing effective means of spreading awareness and safety protocols.

Through research, determination, and empathy, Ankrah’s project transforms concern into action- providing the start of lasting changes which begin with a single person’s courage to speak up about what matters most: keeping students safe.