Local teacher reacts to CT shooting

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A local woman who taught at Virginia Beach City Public Schools for nearly 40 years told WAVY.com says change is needed following Friday's shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

Trenace Riggs recently retired from teaching, and says she wishes nothing more than to be back in her old classroom.

"I've always felt safe in a school," Riggs said.

Riggs has taught in Virginia Beach for 37 years. When the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado happened, her daughter wanted her to quit, but Riggs felt safe at school. Now, as President of the Virginia Beach Education Association, she assures WAVY.com local teachers feel safe as well.

"Usually if people are concerned, we hear something [about it,]," Riggs said. "No one has said anything."

In classrooms, teachers are reassuring students. At the district level, officials are discussing safety but do not want change to come from within schools.

"The changes that need to be made are not, I don't think, in security, because they've got a lot of secure measures in the schools, but I think in some of the other laws like the mental health laws and the gun laws," Riggs said.