Teachers Unify’s Crisis Team is Trauma-Informed Support for Any School Community that is Dealing with the Aftermath of Gun Violence

Danbury, CT — Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence is launching a new first-ever crisis intervention team dedicated to supporting teachers and schools that are dealing with the aftermath of gun violence. The team is led by teachers with decades of experience in the classroom who are survivors of gun violence and Dr. Michael Schultz, a licensed psychologist, family therapist, and systems consultant.

“As someone who has gone through a horrific experience with gun violence in the classroom, I know better than anyone that a formal team like this has been talked about, asked for, and needed for decades,” said Abbey Clements, executive director of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. “Until we, as a nation, choose to end this public health crisis, educators and school staff deserve to be supported by those who truly understand — those who grasp the challenges, the grief, and the courage required to move forward in the wake of gun violence and the persistent fear of it.”

The team officially launches on 11/6 with an intensive weekend of in-person training in Philadelphia. The team has been meeting since June 2025 to prepare. Any teacher or school, public or private, can reach a member of the crisis intervention team by calling 203-296-3689 or emailing response@teachersunify.org.

"I am committed to ‘help the people that help the people,’” said Dr. Michael Schultz. “The heart, soul, and impact of Teachers Unify is predicated on the inclusion, motivation, and resolve of those we serve. Accordingly, our work is team-oriented and aims to cultivate safety, trust, empowerment, and healing, with the understanding that collaboration is the bridge between hope and change.”

The crisis intervention team comes after Teachers Unify launched a new back-to-school campaign, Project Lockdown, which aims to educate parents about the need to securely lock up their firearms. Located at projectlockdown.org, the campaign includes fact sheets and striking videos that contrast today’s lockdown gun drill culture at schools and asks parents to lock up their guns and prevent the next school shooting. According to a study by the Secret Service, around two-thirds of school shootings take place because a firearm was not properly secured in the home.

Gun violence is a costly – and preventable – public health challenge that is far too common in our schools:

The inaugural members of the crisis intervention team include:

Abbey Clements 

Abbey Clements is the executive director and cofounder of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence, and has been an elementary teacher for 32 years. She and her then-2nd graders are survivors of the Sandy Hook School tragedy on 12/14/12. Since that fateful day, Abbey has been a gun violence prevention activist. She was a Moms Demand Action volunteer leader for almost a decade and is a proud member of the Everytown Survivor Network. Abbey is a strategic consultant on gun violence issues for the American Federation of Teachers (AFT ) and a member of the Brady Pac National Advisory Council. Abbey has been featured in various publications and documentaries, including Newtown, If I Don’t Make It, I Love You, Bullets Into Bells, Marie Claire, AFT Voices, USA Today, among others.

Dr. Michael Schultz

Dr. Michael J. Schultz is a licensed psychologist, family therapist, and systems consultant, practicing for more than 40 years as an administrator, clinician, group facilitator, and university professor in public and private settings throughout New England and many regions of the United States. He has conducted numerous educational forums, workshops, and crisis intervention services across professional disciplines with businesses, child welfare organizations, healthcare facilities, law enforcement agencies, schools, state agencies, and others.  In addition to his book, Systems Consultation When Trauma Strikes: Stories of Hope, Collaboration, and Change, he is the author of several articles and book chapters related to child welfare, family systems medicine, outdoor education, organizational leadership, and primary and secondary traumatic stress.

Flo Rice

Injured in the Santa Fe High School shooting, she advised Texas legislators on a comprehensive school safety bill. She highlighted the vulnerabilities of substitute teachers who lacked active shooter training, classroom door keys, and 911 access. She regularly testifies at the Texas Capitol on gun legislation and meets with lawmakers to promote safer schools. Beyond Texas legislative advocacy, she served on the board of the School Safety Grant Organization, delivers keynote addresses for PTSD survivor communities, and worked nationally with the Newtown Action Alliance on the Safer Communities Act. Featured in Education Week, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and NPR, she was Santa Fe High School’s Substitute Teacher of the Year and recipient of the Lives Robbed Mr. Arnulfo Reyes Award.

Robin Walker 

Robin Walker is a member of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence and a part of the Teachers Unify Crisis and Support Team.  She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Arkansas and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Bridgeport.  Robin is a survivor teacher of the Sandy Hook School shooting in 2012.  She taught at Sandy Hook School for twenty years, including six years after the tragedy. Robin is now retired and continues to live in Newtown, CT.

Ivy Schamis

Ivy grew up in South Florida and earned a Masters Degree in Secondary Education. She raised her family in Parkland FL where she taught Social Studies for 2 decades at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. On Valentine’s Day 2018 her classroom, Room 1214, was ambushed by a former MSD student with an AR15. She worked at the school for 2 more years until her students all graduated and then with her husband, she relocated to Washington DC in early 2020 where she currently lives and works - accompanied by Waffles the Wonder Dog.

Josh Novick

Josh Novick is a licensed therapist, educator, and founder of Trust & Grow Consulting. With over a decade of experience supporting schools and communities through trauma, he helps educators and leaders build systems rooted in connection, care, and collective resilience. Josh began his career teaching on Chicago’s West Side and later helped coordinate the community response following the 2022 Highland Park mass shooting. His work now centers on trauma-informed consulting, counseling, and advocacy focused on healing, safety, and sustainable wellbeing.

Sarah Lerner

Sarah Lerner, co-founder of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence and member of the Board of Directors. She is a survivor teacher of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy in 2018. Lerner has been teaching for over 20 years, with the past decade at MSD. Lerner was the editor of “Parkland Speaks,” has been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Marie Claire, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, PBS NewsHour Extra and AFT Share My Lesson, has appeared on MSNBC, HLN, CNN, PBS NewsHour, PBS Frontline, Good Morning Britain and NPR/WLRN and has been a keynote speaker for AFT, Council of Chief State School Officers, Florida Literary Assoc., Florida Assoc. of Colleges for Teachers and AFT Share My Lesson.

Liesl Fressola 

Liesl, an Instructional Specialist, partners with teachers to promote equitable math instruction. She has been teaching since 2006. Liesl is a survivor of the Sandy Hook School Shooting; in her own recovery she has advocated for teachers and students mental health. In 2014, Liesl received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. She has her BA in Elem. Education and Anthropology from Washington University and a MS in STEM Teacher Leadership from Western CT State Univ.  She seeks to cultivate healing by weaving together her experiences with trauma, coaching and design thinking.

Amy Taylor 

Amy Taylor is a crisis intervention and support team member with Teachers Unify.  She has been teaching elementary school for over 20 years.  She is a survivor teacher of the Sandy Hook School tragedy in 2012.  Following the tragedy, Amy dove into a myriad of recovery practices.  Utilizing a menu of self-care options to make herself whole again and give her best self to her family, her students and the greater good has been her focus ever since.  Amy has been trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid. She has lobbied senators and house representatives in Washington DC to fight to reverse PLCAA laws, working toward giving people the right to pursue justice from gun manufacturers and dealers.  Amy has been trained in Responsive Classroom, has the National Certificate for STEM Teaching, is a TEAM Mentor, and an active member of the NFT.  She is committed to supporting school staff in self-care, recovery and resiliency.      

Kiki Leyba 

Kiki Leyba currently teaches at Columbine High School in Littleton, Co. He was a first year teacher when thirteen were killed and dozens were injured. During the next several years, Leyba mentored hundreds of students while privately battling PTSD symptoms and struggling to navigate the aftermath. In 2010 the impossible happened as a gunman violated his son’s middle school. This became a benchmark day in Leyba's life: supporting others traumatized by school violence became a calling. Drawing upon decades of experience, Kiki has helped so many communities navigate the complex aftermath of campus violence. He considers his work with the Sandy Hook community a life changing experience. Kiki Leyba continues to support communities in trauma. Additionally, he works to educate others about smart gun legislation, red flag laws, and mental health funding.  In October, Leyba was recognized by the organization, Keep Guns Off Campus, for his tireless efforts to end gun violence and support victims.

Ben Tucker

Ben has been a volunteer with Everytown and Mom’s Demand Action for 10 years.  He was with the Survivor Connect program with Everytown for two years. He is currently a retired educator who spent 30 years teaching and coaching in Reno and Sparks, Nevada.  He is a survivor of a school shooting in 2013 and while working as a TV news photographer, he witnessed a gang member shooting hostages at an electronics store in 1991.  

Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence envisions a future where every school in the United States is a safe haven and a safe learning environment for every child, and where all citizens live without the fear and trauma of gun violence. Its co-founders have over 75 years teaching experience combined and two are survivors of our most horrific school shootings – Newtown and Parkland.  

November 13, 2025
Contact: Press@teachersunify.org

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Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence Launches First-Ever Crisis Intervention Team to Support School Communities that Experience Gun Violence