Richneck School Shooting Update CNU Psychology Professor Wins the Outstanding Faculty Award for 2023

An interview with Dr. Kelly Cartwright

Six-year-old’s family releases statement on the incident

JARRETT CONNOLLY JARRETT.CONNOLLY.20@CNU.EDU

The shooting at Richneck Elementary School on Jan. 6 of this year has left the entire world stunned. An unidentified six-year-old student shot his teacher, Abby Zwerner, in the hand and chest with his mother’s handgun while Zwerner was giving instruction. The shock of this shooting made international news. The investigation into how and why this shooting happened has been ongoing and recent revelations paint a shocking picture.

Immediately following the shooting, the student was restrained by staff and then taken by police. His identity will continue to be withheld due to his young age.

The boy’s family released a statement via their attorney on Jan. 19. “Our heart goes out to our son’s teacher and we pray for her healing in the aftermath of such an unimaginable tragedy as she selflessly served our son and the children in the school.”

The family said the firearm, identified as a 9mm Taurus pistol, was “secure” and that they were committed to firearm safety, but did not elaborate on where the gun was the day of the shooting and how the student was able to get it. The family also said the student had an “acute disability” and is currently receiving treatment.

Zwerner was released from the hospital on Jan. 19. A statement to WAVY from her family reads. “She continues her recovery as an outpatient with the support of family, friends and health professionals. The Zwerner family respectfully asks for privacy during this time.” A Go

Fund Me campaign was set up by Ms.Zwerner’s sister in order to pay for the medical costs and future living conditions for the wounded teacher.

There has been a lot of discussion on what to do to improve school safety. Democratic State Delegate Mike Mullin, who represents part of Newport News, proposed security renovations for Richneck and Dutrow Elementary.

On Jan. 17, the Newport News School Board meeting was packed with dozens of concerned parents, teachers, and citizens. “I want behaviors held accountable, I want to change,” one parent said.

Many teachers are fed up with their concerns being ignored about the lack of discipline in the school system, “We get hit, punched, cursed, threatened…you aren’t listening to us,” one teacher said.

Several speakers expressed a desire to see all the leaders of Newport News Public Schools replaced, as they feel their lack of policy has led to incidents like this and previous ones, like the Heritage High School shooting in 2021, happening when it could have been prevented.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew has said the investigation is ongoing and that while no charges have currently been filed, it could still happen once witness interviews conclude.

He also expressed frustration that the school did not inform the NNPD about the fact that the student had been suspected of carrying a firearm before, as well as comments he made to Zwerner saying he wanted, “to light her on fire and watch her die” that went unpunished.

Richneck’s interim principal Karen Lynch said the school will remain closed until further notice.

This year, one of two CNU professors to win the 2023 Outstanding Faculty Award is Dr. Kelly Cartwright. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia considers nearly 80 different nominees from colleges and universities all over Virginia to receive this award. Dr. Cartwright is one of 12 winners this year. The other winner from CNU is Dr. Margarita Marinova.

Cartwright has her BS in psychology and a minor in Biology from Virginia Tech. She then went on to graduate school at the University of Arkansas and received her MA in psychology and her doctoral degree in experimental psychology.

She taught one year at a small school in Pennsylvania before coming to CNU. She is currently in her 25th year at CNU.

Cartwright has published three books and has a fourth one coming out this March. That fourth book is a second edition of one of her published books, which is an uncommon occurrence. Having a second edition means the book sold so well that people want to see an updated version. In addition, Cartwright has published over 60 articles and many of them have been with students.

For Cartwight, the job is all about the students, “I want to foster students’ motivation and figure out where they are. And then help them grow beyond where they are. … it’s all about growth, student growth and development.”

Something Cartwright loves is the ability to really connect with the students. She says the focus is on “individual student mentoring, as much as possible.”

She continues, “I teach an intro class, and it’s big. It’s 95 students, but students say, even in a class of 95, they feel like it’s a small class because I know who they are. I care about who they are, I care about where they are, so that they don’t feel disconnected even in a big class. And I think that personal connection is important.”

That personal connection that Cartwight creates with her students can last a long time. Cart- wright embodies the mentality of “once you have me as a student, you’re my student for life.”

This mentality allowed for her to easily obtain letters of recommendation from her students, past and present. These letters are a key part of the application process for the Outstanding Faculty Award.

As for her first reaction to winning the award, Cartwright says it “took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. I can remember the moment I was sitting in the car in the parking lot, and I got the call. And it just took my breath away. It was such an honor, just such an incredible honor.”

Cartwright also talked about the research that she conducts. She describes her work as being “interested in what’s going on in your head when you’re reading, like at a cognitive level, but also in your brain? What’s going on? How are you connecting up the stuff?”

This kind of research has led Cartwright to speak before the Institute for Education Sciences, the US Department of Education’s research arm. She spoke about reading comprehension difficulties.

However, out of everything, Cartwright says her favorite part of her job is “watching students grow while continuing to grow myself.”

She will be honored at a ceremony on March 7. Cartwright will also receive $7,500 from Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.