So it is no surprise that she responds with a maternal instinct when asked how the terrorist attacks last year affected her job. "I am much more cognizant of the need to protect these children and to let them know they are safe," she says. "Our goal has been to keep things normal. This is a place where we can preserve some of their innocence."

Hunter was in her office when she got word of the terrorist attacks in New York. She began receiving calls almost immediately from concerned parents who wanted to know what she was telling the students. Hunter chose to tell the children nothing. "I wanted to honor the parents' feelings," she explains. "I felt it was more important for them to find their own way to approach their children."

During the next couple of weeks, Hunter says the students talked about patriotism and made flags for the school's windows. Some of the upper grade levels met to discuss the tragic events. "The older kids talked about how some people wanted to hurt us as Americans and…in some cases, especially for the older kids, it turned into discussion of acceptance and tolerance," she says.

Although Hunter says Sept. 11 reminded everyone of the need to protect children's safety, her day-to-day job has not changed significantly. "Prior to the attacks, we already had a crisis plan in place…. I think the attacks of 9/11 added to our list of possible emergencies."

Hunter says other issues, such as school shootings, have had a bigger impact on her job. "While neither event – a terrorist attack or school shooting – is very likely to happen here, I have some control over whether or not the school shooting occurs and no control over a terrorist attack."

Looking ahead, Hunter says it is important that the young students at her elementary school continue to feel safe. "We try to function in a way that the kids will perceive these issues as somewhat invisible. People depend on us to be reliable and structured despite just about anything."

– Profile and photo by Christian Scripter