Shooting victim loved to teach immigrants
In this photo from August, Roberta King teaches an English as a Second Language class at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, where she was killed April 3. AP Photo/Press & Sun Bulletin, Chuck Haupt.
Roberta "Bobbie" King of Binghamton was usually found at the city's American Civic Association during the summer, helping immigrants learn English.
But on a fateful spring day, the 72-year-old substitute was filling in at the center as a favor to a teacher who was celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary.
King was teaching citizenship on April 3 when Jiverly Wong of Johnson City, a Vietnamese immigrant, brought a gun to the center and opened fire, killing two secretaries, then King and a class full of students before turning the gun on himself. Fourteen people died.
Mitch Harkavy, local president of Substitutes United in Broome, talked with King the night before about a few minor union matters.
King served as Binghamton district representative on SUB's Executive Board. She was the main presenter at Binghamton's fall orientation for substitute teachers, where she discussed the history of the union and what it meant to belong.
"Her gentle manner of speaking was extremely effective. She once helped SUB get almost 50 new memberships at one of these fall meetings," Harkavy said.
When news spread about the massacre, Harkavy left a message on King's answering machine: "Are you OK? Please tell me you're OK."
Harkavy was devasted when he eventually learned of her death.
"I was shocked. You hear about incidents like these happening in other places, but you never expect one to affect you directly," he said.
King, a mother of 10, had been substitute-teaching for almost 26 years, and had served on the local union's executive board for a decade.
"She loved teaching English as a Second Language because these immigrants were so excited about learning," said Loretta Curtin, fellow SUB executive board member.
Curtin was at NYSUT's annual convention in Buffalo when she heard about the Binghamton massacre, though the news of King's death had not yet been reported.
"I was just beside myself," said Curtin, who informed NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi, who then announced the tragic news to the assembly.
Even before delegates knew a member had died they collected $5,000 to help the victims' families.
For King, her 10 children and 17 grandchildren "came first with everything," Curtin said. "She traveled all over the U.S., and she wouldn't miss any of her grandchildren's events."
Catherine Strawn, SUB vice president, called King "the voice of reason" when meetings got off track.
The SUB board created an annual $250 scholarship in King's name for members pursing state teacher certification. The local is also making a donation to the American Civic Association in her memory.
King was known for her legion of historic dolls, which she shared with students and immigrants.
"One thing almost universally said about her is she tried to see the good in people," Harkavy said.
More than 900 people attended King's funeral.
Tragedy calls for reviews of safety plans
By Sylvia Saunders - New York Teacher
The tragedy in Binghamton - which placed area schools in immediate lockdown - serves as a powerful reminder for why districts need to have updated school safety plans.
NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi urged delegates to make sure their districts and all school buildings have a viable safety plan in case the unthinkable happens.
In Binghamton, the high school was down the street from the American Civic Association, where a man opened fire on a room full of immigrants taking a citizenship class. Fourteen people died, including NYSUT substitute teacher Roberta King, who was teaching English.
"The reason you have safety plans is because NYSUT's Representative Assembly, in 2000, passed a resolution asking us to seek legislation," Iannuzzi said. "And I want to remind each of you these school safety plans must be reviewed annually."
Iannuzzi noted it was also the 10th anniversary of the Columbine school shootings, which coincidentally occurred during NYSUT's 1999 RA in Niagara Falls.
To address issues of school safety and violence prevention, the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act - Project SAVE - was passed by the state Legislature and signed into law in July 2000.
Under Project SAVE, local union leaders or school personnel appointed by the collective bargaining unit should be part of the safety plan review, which should include evacuation plans, designation of an emergency response team and procedures for contacting law enforcement and parents in the event of a violent incident.
The required annual review of district and building school safety plans should be completed by July 1 of each year.
For more details, NYSUT has posted an information bulletin. It includes information on required school violence prevention and intervention training.
As Iannuzzi updated delegates on the news, Barbara Bowen, president of the Professional Staff Congress at CUNY, called for a special collection to support the victims and their families.
"It's an outrage, especially in a center designed to help immigrants," Bowen said.
Delegates responded with $5,000 in donations to aid victims' families.