WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — After two separate security threats and a recent announcement of administrative changes.
The past couple months have not been kind to Parkland High School.
WFMY News 2 spoke to a teacher at Parkland who said the school has positive things to highlight besides the recent headlines.
"In my 10 years, I have never felt unsafe in that building," teacher Tia Buster said.
She said a decade teaching English at the school has brought out the best in her.
"I also run a very robust after school program called P.U.S.H. 21," Buster shared, "We offer academic support, but we also offer enrichment activities."
She said during and after school, many students are excelling day-to-day.
"Music, dance, culinary arts," Buster recalled," This is happening every single day and the kids are thriving."
Buster said most days are quiet and usually go by without incident.
But the past few weeks Parkland High has been in the spotlight.
Last month, police arrested a student after a video leaked of him assaulting a teacher.
This past week, a student brought a gun to school, it accidentally went off in his backpack and a shrapnel hit another student.
Recently, the school principal Noel Keener announced plans to move to Guilford County Schools.
"When the craziness happens, it is handled so quickly and with such effectiveness and grace." Buster recalled, "A lot of times we don't find out until an email goes out or we find out by the phone dial that goes out to parents."
Buster said she trusts her district and its protocols.
"Some may think you're not being informed in the building. But I think that speaks to how strong admin team is and making sure that everyone is not impacted by these isolated incidents," she said.
As an educator Buster said bad behavior at schools is common. A recent study says nearly 50% percent of K-12 teachers in the U.S. said students academic performance and behavior rank at fair or poor.
"It is not a measure of pointing the finger but if these things are happening. I think we should spend more energy into looking at what is the breakdown," Buster shared, "What is going on with our kids, what is causing these things to happen."
Buster said she has 120 students enrolled in her after school educational program.