Murray St. Univ. employee helps write guide to support schools recovering from violence

MURRAY, Ky. (Heartland News) - Murray State University employee Dr. Patricia Greer used her own firsthand experience of school shootings to help write a guide to help educators navigate the challenges of recovering after a school shooting.

Dr. Greer is the director of the resource center for the Kentucky Center for School Safety, housed in the College of Education and Human Services. She was also the principal of Marshall County High School when a shooting claimed the lives of two students in January 2018.

Murray State University officials say Dr. Greer is one of 18 authors who contributed to the second edition of the Guide to Recovery. The guide is a resource created with the intention of helping school administrators lead their communities through the process of recovering from a school shooting.

“The Guide to Recovery was developed and written by principals from across the country who have one thing in common: we have led through tragedy and recovery,” Greer said. “We lead different types of schools and live in different communities, but we quickly realized that trauma is trauma no matter where it occurs. I’ve worked with many principals who have used this guide to navigate post-tragedy events and decision-making, and I am proud to support all my colleagues as a member of the Principal Recovery Network.”

Murray St. officials say Greer’s writing the guide emphasizes the importance of giving the students a voice about school safety and creating school environments where students feel valued, supported and connected to trusted adults.

The Guide to Recovery: Second Edition was released on September 24 in Parkland, Florida and is available through the National Principals Association’s Principal Recovery Network’s website.