Here is Washington Unified School District’s advertisement for its new partnership with the I Love U Guys Foundation, a comprehensive school safety program. Photo courtesy of Washington Unified School District

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Two hours after sending "I love u guys" in a text to her parents, Emily Keyes was killed in a 2006 Colorado school shooting.

Before taking his own life, the suicidal gunman took the life of the 16-year-old Platte Canyon High School student, who was one of six female hostages sexually assaulted.

Emily's text is now the name of a foundation created by a group of school resource officers, business owners, principals, attorney and executive staff.

“Emily's final text messages to her parents gave the I Love U Guys Foundation a voice,” said Allyson Jones, foundation communications manager, adding that since 2006, “The foundation has used that voice to restore and protect the joy of youth by providing resources and training on crisis response and post-crisis reunification to schools, districts, departments, agencies, organizations and communities across the world.”

Nearly two decades later, countless student names are on a long list of nationwide school shootings, with students packing fear along with lunch in their book bags.

“It's simple: students thrive in an environment they feel safe in; without that sense of safety, learning becomes secondary,” Jones said, adding the need for Standard Response Protocol (SRP). “It plays an important role in fostering that safe environment by providing students and staff with clear, common language and actions in an emergency.”

Although Emily did not survive her school emergency, her life makes Washington Unified School District (WUSD) students safer here, as the district is implementing the foundation's procedures. 

Communications director Giorgos Kazanis said that district officials will announce the Standard Response Protocol and explain how it is being implemented in all schools in the coming weeks.

“We encourage families to discuss this information at home and continue to be our partners in creating a secure, nurturing environment for learning and growth,” Kazanis said, adding that the tools given will equip students, staff, and community members to respond effectively to various scenarios.

“Moreover, these protocols align with best practices recommended by law enforcement and emergency management professionals,” Kazanis said. “They're adaptable to various situations, which is essential in our ever-changing world, where new challenges can arise unexpectedly.”

Jones agreed.

“Knowing what to do in a crisis gives students the confidence to respond quickly and effectively, so their focus can remain on learning," Jones said, adding that the foundation has not had direct correspondence with the district.

"We are happy to hear that they find our programs useful and are implementing them.”

Kazanis said that the particular Standard Response Protocol is “known for its practicality and effectiveness, provides a clear, consistent approach to emergency situations, which complements and enhances our existing safety measures.”

“It's a tool that we believe will empower our school community and instill confidence in our ability to respond to any emergency,” Kazanis said, adding that I Love U Guys programs are in more than 50,000 schools, districts, departments, agencies, organizations and communities worldwide.

“The foundation is here to support and provide additional training, and we look forward to working with the Washington Unified School District in the future,” Jones said.

Before I Love U Guys, Washington Unified School District has always prioritized safety, according to Kazanis. In the last calendar year, district school leaders participated in approximately 18 trainings hosted throughout the district.

“This extensive training schedule underscores Washington Unified School District's dedication to prioritizing safety and staying ahead of emerging trends and best practices,” Kazanis said. “By prioritizing safety in this comprehensive way, we're creating an environment where students can thrive academically and emotionally.”

Schools should be “a place of creativity, critical thinking and where personal growth can flourish,” according to Kazanis, who said that is only possible with a strong foundation of safety and security.