Interview with Professor Justin D. Garwood

Justin D. Garwood is a professor at the University of Vermont with a focus on Program Coordination in Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health & Inclusive Education. While teaching a graduate class in 2018 about behavior management, he was asked by a student from Newtown, Connecticut, if the class would speak on school shootings. It was that moment that inspired him to create a full summer course focusing on school shootings. After doing lots of complex research, Garwood strengthened his belief that the root of school shootings lies in untreated mental health crises, isolation and lack of meaningful relationships in students' lives. 

In the interview above, Garwood mentions that he believes security measures like metal detectors and active shooter drills do not benefit these situations and instead, students would benefit from closer personal relationships with their peers and teachers. Garwood emphasized that mass shooters share a sense of alienation and the belief that no one cares about them. To him, the most urgent need in schools is more counselors, psychologists and staff trained to work with kids dealing with trauma.