Albany schools, police host safety training

After their 16-year-old daughter Emily was killed in a 2006 school shooting in Colorado, John-Michael and Ellen Keyes created a foundation to guide schools, police and others in responding to emergencies that happen at a school.

On Tuesday, John-Michael Keyes led a day-long seminar for more than 50 educators, police officers and emergency workers from Albany and throughout the state. The event was coordinated by the City School District of Albany and the Albany Police Department.

Keyes shared his foundation’s standard response protocol: guidelines in common, simple language that alert and direct staff and students in a school emergency. He also discussed a process to reunite students and families after a crisis at school. 

The Keyeses’ formed their non-profit foundation in 2009, calling it “I Love U Guys” – words Emily texted to her parents while she was being held hostage by the shooter. The foundation collaborates with experts in education, law enforcement, emergency management and mental health to produce a variety of materials for schools, agencies and businesses.

The district and police brought in Keyes in their ongoing collaborative efforts to improve the safety of students and staff in Albany’s public schools.

Learn more about the I Love U Guys Foundation here. 

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to work in partnership with our diverse community to engage every learner in a robust educational program designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for success. The district serves more than 9,600 students in 18 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.