On September 28, 2016, school counselor Molly Hudgens was in her office at Sycamore Middle School when a fourteen-year-old armed with a semiautomatic handgun and an additional magazine of ammunition came to her in the counseling department.
His plan...kill people on campus.
What happened next is truly a miracle.
What happened next led to Molly becoming a Congressional Medal of Honor Citizen Honors Recipient.
And now…
She is ready to tell the story. Not just the story of that day, but also of the thirty-nine years and 364 days leading up to it that prepared her for the best and worst day of her life. Her story is one of triumph over adversity and hope found in the bleakest of moments. You will be truly moved and inspired as she shares how her faith, rapport with the student, and a strong school community guided her efforts and provided a positive outcome that day.
We, at Dave Burgess Consulting Inc., are honored to have worked with Molly to bring this book to the world.
Molly joined me on a special Facebook Live to discuss the book on the day of its release, and I am embedding the video below. We were also joined by the incredible Michele Gay. Michele’s daughter, Josephine, was killed in the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School and is the cofounder of Safe and Sound Schools. We are truly grateful to Michele for bringing her story and message of hope to the program. Here is that video...so many incredible parts of the story and background are shared by both Molly and Michele.
The book is already creating a positive buzz and has been the #1 New Release on Amazon in multiple categories including Crisis Management Counseling and School Safety. You can get your copy on AMAZON RIGHT HERE or on BARNES & NOBLE RIGHT HERE. We would love for you to share your thoughts on the book on social media using the #SavingSycamore hashtag. You can follow Molly on Twitter HERE and on Instagram HERE.
Thank you so much for your support of our projects! We truly appreciate you.
-Dave
PS: Have you seen the new DBC Inc. book by Dr. Lindsay Portnoy? It is quite remarkable! The research is CLEAR...we’re born to PLAY!!!! Game On? Brain on! The Surprising Relationship Between Play and Gray (Matter) is a powerful manifesto about how YOU can transform your classroom through the power of play and gamification.
With tons of QR codes leading to even more amazing stuff, this book is jammed to the brim with practical ideas you can use in many settings, many grades, and across the curriculum. Learn more and grab your copy HERE!
Here are what just a few of the reviewers have said about Lindsay’s book:
"The best informed, most usable, and best-written book on games and learning we now have for educators, teachers and parents." --James Paul Gee, author of What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy
“Whether you're a n00b or a pro, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for what happens in the mind when engaged in play.”—Amber Coleman-Mortley, director of social engagement, iCivics
“Lindsay Portnoy brilliantly shows us why and how to bring play’s power into classrooms through games.”—Peter Gray, research professor of psychology at Boston College
“Lindsay Portnoy does a wonderful job emphasizing the importance of play in learning and how we need to ensure that we are addressing equity in terms of play.”—Steve Isaacs, teacher, game design and development, Bernards Township Public Schools
“Game On? Brain On! is guaranteed to make you feel good while learning about play—just like a great, fun game!”—Dr. Kat (Karen) Schrier, author of Knowledge Games