April 20th, 1999 is when unspeakable tragedy came to Columbine High School.
It is hard to imagine, but that was 20 years ago and yet, even now, just the mention of the word “Columbine” brings it right back
…especially for educators
…especially for parents
…especially in a world where it continues to inexplicably happen.
It’s time to tell the story.
Frank DeAngelis was the principal on that awful day and vowed he would not leave 
Columbine High School until every single student at any level of the school system walked across the stage and graduated. These were his kids. 15 years later, after leading the school, the community, and himself along the long and difficult path of recovery, he retired.
This is his story.
It has been our great honor at Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. to work with Frank to bring this incredible book to the world. They Call Mr De: The Story of Columbine’s Heart, Resilience, and Recovery is officially released and available today. Simply put…it is transformative. Yes, it will make you cry. But, more importantly, it is a story of hope and of the incredible power human beings have to find purpose and move forward even in the face of horrific trauma. All the cameras and news trucks left…and they were still Columbine. They had to find a way to make that mean something more, while never forgetting those tragically lost.
Advance readers have struggled to find words to describe the impact of the book. Editors had to routinely step away to gather themselves.
President Bill Clinton said, “This book is a testament to the power of compassion in the face of crisis and the age-old belief that leaders are not born but made.”
We can’t wait for you to read it.
This one is for Columbine.
But, it’s also for Parkland.
It’s for Sandy Hook.
It’s for Santana and Granite Hills.
It’s for Virginia Tech.
It’s for Santa Fe.
It’s for Roseburg and Red Lake and Oakland…and the list goes on.
It is for every educator walking into a school and every parent sending their precious children into a school and hoping they come home safe at the end of the day. It shouldn’t have to be this way.
We hope this book plays a part in bringing this madness to an end and offers hope and a path to recovery to those impacted by trauma of all types.
Learn more about They Call Me Mr De by clicking RIGHT HERE. Please let us know what you think and share using #TheyCallMeMrDe on social media.
Special thanks to Frank for being willing to speak to and help school communities experiencing similar tragedies and for being willing to live through this horror yet again in order to bring this book to the world.
Thanks for your support,
Dave Burgess
