[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. KALEB STOPPEL

 Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today to honor a school 
administrator that went above and beyond the service to his students, 
Dr. Kaleb Stoppel. His brave actions during an active shooter situation 
at Olathe East High School helped keep an already tragic situation from 
taking students' lives.
  On Friday, March 4, a senior student at Olathe East was called into 
Dr. Stoppel's office after a tip was submitted saying the student 
brought a gun to the school. Dr. Stoppel first asked the student to 
open his backpack, which he did not comply with, prompting the school's 
resource officer to step into the situation. Shortly after the officer 
arrived, the student pulled out his weapon and began opening fire.
  In a flurry, the officer returned fire, ultimately shooting and 
subduing the student, but not without himself and Dr. Stoppel being 
wounded as well. Both, however, have thankfully been discharged from 
the hospital. I pray that something like that may never happen in those 
halls or any others across America again, for even though there were no 
fatal wounds, the scars of trauma for everyone at Olathe East will 
surely run deep.
  Lastly, I want to thank Dr. Stoppel for being so responsive to the 
situation and keeping students out of harm's way. Had he not 
investigated the tip, this tragedy surely would have been much graver. 
Olathe East is safer because of him. I ask now that my colleagues show 
this same admiration and recognition for Dr. Stoppel and that he may 
stay safe while educating our future leaders.

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