ADA, Okla. (KXII) – How do you prepare for tragedy before it ever happens?
On April 7, a former student walked into Pauls Valley High School with a gun.
He fired multiple shots before he was tackled by Principal Kirk Moore and Assistant Principal Chad Chronister.
On Thursday evening, the Department of Education at East Central University hosted Pauls Valley staff to talk about school safety.
“I felt like we were in an amazing position to not be in that situation and we still were,” Chronister.
Alongside Dr. Laney Tibbs, he took the audience through the moments after the shooter walked in, and what happened in the hours that followed.
The purpose: to prepare other educators for the unthinkable.
“We’ve learned a lot that’s going to equip us down the road on all of those instances,” Chronister said.
Tibbs said, in any chaotic situation, training, drills, and knowing the roles around you are very important.
That’s why the district involves local police and fire in their lockdown and other drills.
She also said communication with parents, students and staff right after a disaster is crucial.
“The safety of our students and their sense of security is of the utmost importance for us and ensuring that is our focus each and every day,” she said.
In the days that followed, counseling for the Panther family was paramount.
Tibbs said, for students who were still in shock, therapy dogs were a big help.
Piece by piece, Pauls Valley had to find its balance again.
“We were able to come together in an even closer manner and so I would say that we have a tight bond that’s really unbreakable from this point. So I’m very thankful for our team at Pauls Valley,” Tibbs said. “We all went into the education field to care for others and care for our students and that’s what the driving force is in this.”
Copyright 2026 KXII. All rights reserved.
