Meet the Noblesville, Indiana Teacher Who Stopped an Active Shooter

Until he felt a sharp pain shoot through his stomach, Jason Seaman didn't know anything was wrong. The seventh-grade science teacher at Noblesville West Middle School had been having a normal day. He was leaning over a desk, helping a student with a test question. When he looked up he saw one of his students, a 13-year-old boy, pointing a handgun at him. The seconds that followed changed everything for the people in that room.

Seaman is a big guy, 6 feet 4 inches, with an imposing frame that speaks to his history as a defensive lineman on his college football team. Two ACL injuries, one in high school and one in college, meant a professional football career was off the table, but Seaman already had another goal. While in high school he realized that he wanted to be a teacher. He'd had a defensive line coach, Steve Kreps, who was also his fourth grade teacher. "He made me realize that you could be so much more than just a name on a classroom door for kids," Seaman said. "He fostered a mentorship in those different roles and it was awesome to see that."

Seaman pursued a degree in elementary education at Southern Illinois University. After a stint in special education in a Fishers, Ind. elementary school, he was hired by Noblesville West Middle School. His dual roles at the school, as both a teacher and the eighth grade football coach, allowed him to get to know his students in and out of the science lab. "There are kids that you will have challenges with in the classroom, but when you get into athletics you see kids how they naturally are," he explained. "They're goofy, competitive, and it's so fun to see them develop." Before starting his position in Noblesville five years ago, he had to complete the ALICE program. The school security company uses the acronym ALICE: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate, to train teachers how to handle a crisis situation.

On May 25, 2018, that fateful day, his training kicked in. After realizing he'd just been shot, Seaman immediately jumped into action. He happened to have a miniature basketball in his hand and he threw it at the shooter. The reaction, which he'd practiced during the active shooter training program, had the desired effect. The shooter was distracted and his focus shifted. He got off a few more shots, injuring student Ella Whistler and hitting Seaman twice more, but no one was killed. Seaman tackled him, pinning him to the floor while yelling at his students to run out of the building.

Despite being shot in the abdomen, forearm, and hip, Seaman spent less than 24 hours in the hospital. The shooting happened on a Friday and he had exploratory surgery that same day to make sure the bullet hadn't nicked any organs. The next morning he decided he was ready to go home. He proved he could walk unassisted and soon he was on his way. By Sunday he was visiting his classroom to see the crime scene and reflect on what happened. He was so calm about it that the police officers wondered if it was really the same person who had been involved in a shooting 48 hours earlier.

He never felt fearful about returning to his classroom. "I've never been a 'what if' kind of person," he said. "It's just a waste of time to play mental games with yourself." He said he knows that worrying about it would just make him edgy and kids can sense that. His priority is always to make the students feel safe. Before the shooting ever happened, he'd told his students that if there was ever an emergency, he would protect them. Without hesitating he'd done just that.
Seaman seems remarkably unfazed by the traumatic events of that day. With his cheerful demeanor it's easy to see why he's a favorite among his students. His life has moved forward in the last year. 
In December, he and his wife Colette will welcome a new sibling for their son Jamison, 4, and daughter Emery, 1. "Time marches on and that's yesterday's news," he said of the shooting.

After the shooting, the Seaman Family Fund was created in an effort to give back to the community. Seaman has all of his public speaking fees paid directly to the charitable organization. When the fund has raised at least $25,000 it can begin to award grants. The goal is to focus on community groups, veterans affairs, and animal shelters; all causes that are close to Seaman's heart.  
 
Jason Seaman is the featured speaker at the Big I 2019 Convention Power Lunch on Monday, Nov. 11 at the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis.

Those who wish to donate directly to the Seaman Family Fund should contact Heather Woock with the Hamilton County Community Foundation at 317-843-2479 ext. 527 or at heatherw@cicf.org.

See the complete convention info: www.bigi.org/convention .
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