Original Press Statement

Fact Sheet

On March 9th, the Georgia Federation of Teachers welcomed educators from various metro Atlanta school districts for the Active Violence Emergency Response Training (A.V.E.R.T.).

Teachers, Office Staff, Healthcare Professionals, and Administrators were given live scenario exercises and experienced hands-on practice, instructing them on how to recognize warning signs and be situationally aware. They learned how to defend and attack, escape and evade, how to equip the space they are in, and control bleeding in an emergency.

8 lucky participants received a Tac-Pac (recommended for controlling

“Most people, and I hate to say this, in their right mind would not even seek to teach,” said Verdaillia Turner, president of the Georgia Federation of Teachers. Turner surveyed her members and found many have side hustles.

“Teachers are tired,” Turner said. “They are waitresses. They do Uber. I’ve met teachers who actually clean houses. Some of them are receptionists. Many of them work in stands at stadiums [and] do all sorts of jobs to make ends meet.”

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