Jumpstart’s CEO Responds in the Wake of the Nashville School Shooting

To our Jumpstart community –

It is unacceptable that we are dealing with another deadly shooting and senseless violence wreaked upon one of our most cherished institutions — a school. For children to thrive in school, it is fundamental that they and their educators are kept safe.  

 I am heartbroken as details continue to unfold surrounding the shooting that killed Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old; and three adults Cynthia Peak, a substitute teacher, Mike Hill, a school custodian, and Katherine Koonce the head of school at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.  

As we grieve together, and hold the victims, their families, and the entire Nashville community close to our hearts, I encourage you to utilize the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Coping with Violence resource guides and Sesame Workshop materials to help during this difficult time.  

In solidarity,  
Naila Bolus 
Chief Executive Officer, Jumpstart for Young Children 

ABOUT JUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Jumpstart for Young Children is a national organization based in Boston advancing equitable early learning outcomes for young children in underserved communities through direct service programming and policy advocacy. Jumpstart’s proven evidence-based curriculum serves thousands of children across 15 states and Washington, D.C., and has trained over 60,000 college students and community volunteers to deliver high-quality early childhood education programming.   Learn more at jstart.org and follow us on Twitter at @Jumpstartkids.