WHEREAS, the highest levels of federal, state and local government have recognized the need to address threats of violence against school supervisors and administrators, as well as other pedagogical staff who participate in the vital work of running our nation’s public schools; and
WHEREAS, in recent months, the disturbing spike in assaults, harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school leaders and their staff, both in person and online, has undermined and destabilized the rightful ability of our public schools to be the safe, healthy and welcoming spaces traditionally reserved to them as educational centerpieces of their communities; and
WHEREAS, the infliction of harm or physical threats against public figures, like school supervisors and administrators, including their immediate family members, is illegal and runs counter to our core values as a nation; and
WHEREAS, school supervisors and the pedagogical staff under their supervision, who dedicate themselves to ensuring our children receive a proper education in a safe environment, are entitled to do their work in their places of employment without fear for their own safety; and
WHEREAS, it is a core tenet of every school supervisor’s professional responsibility to provide for the safety and well-being of the students and staff in their charge, which is inextricably linked to the overall safe and secure learning environment in their schools, and that environment is irreparably harmed when threats of violence are made against school supervisors; and
WHEREAS, this academic year, the United States attorney general issued a memorandum calling for partnership among federal, state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement to address threats against school administrators, board members, teachers and staff, and further directed that a series of meetings be convened to facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing said threats and opening dedicated lines of communication for threat reporting, assessment and response; and
WHEREAS, school leaders have continued to witness and/or experience an increasing frequency of physical assaults, threats of violence, and harassing and intimidating behavior despite the United States attorney general’s memorandum;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Federation of School Administrators will actively commit its resources to support and enhance legislation and its enforcement in each jurisdiction where an American Federation of School Administrators local is situated, to make it a felony crime to assault a school supervisor or administrator and/or their immediate family members; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Federation of School Administrators will continue its efforts in raising awareness and educating federal, state and local legislators regarding the damage to the health and well-being of school communities that has resulted from the recent increase in assaults and threats of physical violence against school leaders.