Safety in Schools

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Join Us! April 2, 2025

Marking twenty-six years after the mass shooting at Columbine High School (CO), American Public Square invites you to the William Jewell College campus for a panel discussion addressing the impact of gun violence in schools. This conversation, organized by William Jewell interns and staff, is presented ahead of Jewell Theatre Company’s upcoming production of “Columbinus,” a play about the 1999 Columbine High School massacre running April 10-13 at William Jewell College (tickets available here).

A multi-disciplinary conversation, the event will bring together experts representing education, nursing, and the performing arts, each offering their unique perspective on this critical issue. Panelists will share their professional insights and explore how gun violence impacts students, educators, healthcare providers, and communities. They will discuss ways to tell stories of victims and survivors of gun violence to address and mitigate its devastating effects.

Cal Perkins, a senior majoring in theatre at William Jewell College, will moderate the discussion. Panelists include:

• • Ashton Botts, J.D. (Arts), William Jewell College graduate, APS member, and director of “Columbinus”
  • Tracy Fields (Education), certification officer for the Department of Education at William Jewell College
  • Dr. Anthony Maglione (Arts), professor of music; director of Choral Studies; director of the artist certificate in Choral Conducting at William Jewell College
  • Dr. Leesa McBroom (Nursing), chair of the Nursing Department at William Jewell College

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; the program begins at 7:00 p.m.

Cal Perkins (he/him) is a fourth-year theatre major at William Jewell College. He is from Sand Springs, OK – but now lives in Bridgton, ME. He is a full-time independent artist, along with a part-time voice actor. Cal participates in Cardinal Voices on campus, along with being a member of APO (Alpha Psi Omega). He has a large interest in directorial roles in theatre, along with acting. Aside from the arts, Cal has taken an interest in the history of Russia along with advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights.

Ashton Botts (William Jewell College ’10) is an attorney, actor, and director based out of Kansas City. She is the director of Jewell Theatre Company’s production of “Columbinus.” As an artist and legal professional, she strives to bring attention to social and political issues through storytelling. To that end, Ashton has directed plays such as “The Laramie Project” and has worked with theatres across the country as dramaturg for multiple productions of “What the Constitution Means to Me.” Botts is also a Member of American Public Square.

Tracy Fields presently serves as the Certification Officer for the Department of Education at William Jewell College.  Tracy has over 30 years’ experience in Public School Education where she served grades K-12 as a school counselor.  As a school counselor, Tracy provided individual and group counseling, academic support, career guidance, crisis intervention, and collaborated with teachers, parents, and administrators to create a safe environment, that promoted learning, for all students.

Anthony J. Maglione is the Director of Choral Studies at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri where he holds the Robert H. McKee Chair of Music. Maglione is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, East Carolina University, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Under his direction, William Jewell College choral ensembles performed at regional and national conferences, were twice named Runner Up (2nd Place) for the American Prize in Choral Performance College/University Division, and released two commercial recordings on Centaur and Albany records. Maglione is founder and Artistic Director of the professional choir, Cardinalis, and Director of Music and Choirmaster at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City. In addition to his responsibilities in Kansas City, he serves on the summer faculty of Westminster Choir College.

Dr. Leesa McBroom, Chair of the Nursing Department, has over 20 years of experience as a nurse, nurse educator, and family nurse practitioner. In her part-time clinical practice, she specializes in treating patients for depression and anxiety, bringing a compassionate and expert approach to mental health care. Dr. McBroom’s extensive healthcare background, combined with her focus on the psychological impact of trauma, allows her to offer a unique perspective on the complex issues surrounding school shootings, suicide, and active shooter response. Her insights bridge the gap between healthcare and trauma recovery, emphasizing the critical role of mental health care both before and in the aftermath of violence.

ROVING REPORTER:

Ivan Calderon

Ivan Calderon (he/him) is a third-year Musical Theatre and English double major from Lawrence, KS. He participates in Concert Choir, Cardinal Voices, Sigma Tau Delta, is the vice president of Alpha Psi Omega, and the recruitment chair of Lambda Chi Alpha. When Ivan isn’t at school, he teaches and trains at his Taekwondo studio and works in various gardens throughout the city of Lawrence.

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