Florida Shooting: Superintendent Has ‘No Words That Can Describe the Heartache’
February 15, 2018
By: Denisa R. Superville
Source: Education Week
Robert Runcie, the superintendent in Broward County, Fla., had just finished a big celebration—handing the keys of a new Toyota Camry to his school district’s teacher of the year—when the barrage of urgent text messages started.
There are multiple reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, the texts from members of his senior staff said. Runcie’s chief of staff called almost immediately and confirmed the worst: The shooting reports were accurate and there would definitely be tragedies. By the time Runcie spoke directly to the Broward County sheriff, the magnitude of the tragedy began to hit home.
“It’s something that I know could happen, but never thought I would see it here in Broward County,” an emotional Runcie said in an interview with Education Week Wednesday night.