NEA President: Education Community Shares Newtown's Grief and Loss

WASHINGTON—A shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., today left at least 26 people dead, including 18 students. The shooting appears to be the nation's second-deadliest school shooting; the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech University resulted in the deaths of 32 people.

The following is a statement by National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel:

"We join the Newtown community and our entire nation in mourning the deaths of innocent children and educators due to violence. As members of the education community, we extend our deepest sympathies to members of the AFTCT who have lost friends and colleagues. We are deeply concerned for everyone in the Newtown community and will work with the AFTCT and the Connecticut Education Association in the hours and days ahead to help them in any way we can to cope with this tragedy."

Statement from CEA President Sheila Cohen on the school shooting in Newtown:

"CEA is deeply saddened by the horrific tragedy that took the lives of so many children and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the parents, teachers, family members, our AFTCT colleagues, and the entire Newtown community. We are committed to helping AFT Connecticut, which represents the teachers in Newtown, as well as the students, teachers, administrators, and families as they recover from this unimaginable tragedy."

· NEA's Health Information Network Crisis Guide
· Lessons on Loss: How a school community heals after a student dies - http://www.nea.org/home/38144.htm
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