About this episode

This episode features a conversation with Abbey Clements about the impact of trauma on educators and the importance of their presence in the aftermath of school violence.

‼️DISCLAIMER‼️ This segment discusses themes of violence within communities, significantly around Sandy Hook Elementary School (2012). Please take care of yourself while listening. In this deeply moving episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with Abbey Clements, a second-grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School during the tragedy of December 14, 2012. Drawing from the anthology If I Don’t Make It, I Love You , Abbey reflects on survival, grief, educator presence, and the invisible emotional labor teachers carry in the aftermath of collective trauma. Together, Joey and Abbey explore what it means to “show up” for students when there are no perfect words, why educators are often excluded from conversations about school safety, and how teacher advocacy itself can become an act of prevention. The conversation also highlights the work of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence, the national organization Abbey co-founded alongside Sarah Lerner to amplify educator voices, support impacted communities, and advocate for trauma-informed prevention efforts nationwide. From Sandy Hook to Parkland and beyond, this episode is a powerful reminder that…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Joey Weisler

Guest: Abbey Clements

Topics covered

• school safety
• trauma
• educator voice
• collective trauma
• teacher advocacy
• gun violence prevention

Keywords

• school safety
• trauma
• educator presence
• gun violence
• Sandy Hook
• teacher advocacy
• emotional labor

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence

Books & works: If I Don’t Make It, I Love You

Places: Sandy Hook Elementary School

More episodes of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education

• "The Pie Just Gets Bigger”: Parenting, Identity, and Emotional Survival in Schools with Dr. Julie Davelman · May 27, 2026 · 1h 4m
• Listening as Witness: How Art, Community, and Invitation Create Space for Healing with Rosa McAllister and Tieshka K. Smith · May 20, 2026 · 42 min
• Listening Isn’t Fixing: Creating Space for Presence in the Classroom with Kathryn Pannepacker · May 13, 2026 · 31 min

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