When I walked into my office on the morning of September 11, 2001, I had two job titles.

I was working for the Department of Defense Education Activity, assigned to the school system located on Fort Knox, Kentucky.

One title was Instructional Systems Specialist for Curriculum and Staff Development. My college preparation and experiences prepared me well for that role.

I was also the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Officer for the school district. My college preparation didn’t begin to prepare me for that day, or the weeks that followed.

So I was taught by women and men who see the world through filters we don’t imagine within the four walls of the school buildings.

They are one of the few essential professions who make less money that we do in education. Like us, they volunteer for the job. For the same reasons we do. And like us, they don’t run from the challenges and difficult situations, they run toward them.

They are currently being questioned by some about their motivation for volunteering to do their jobs, their dedication, loyalty, and courage.

They don’t have to respond to those who question them, their actions speak louder than their words ever can.

Watching them at work that day, and the weeks that followed filled me with pride. And does so today.

A lot to reflect on tomorrow. Saw many things, heard many things, made many decisions that I never expected to be part of my school career. It was a day filled with unforgettable events.

Even though I would like to forget some of them.

And so it goes…