his
Emergency Management Resource Guide is dedicated to our dear friend
and co-worker, Steve Kimberling. Sadly, Steve died on
February 14, 2008 after fighting a courageous battle with
brain cancer. And, though the devastating disease ravished
his body, it did not break his spirit. Indeed, up until only
several weeks before his death, his passion for school
safety directly
manifested itself in his thoughtful work and contribution to
this guide to assist schools in creating or updating their
plans to use for school emergencies and crisis response. As
all who were privileged to know Steve knew well, most of his
professional life was one that was spent continuously
striving to maximize the safety of school environments. As
one of his close friends and co-workers of many years said
recently, "Steve Kimberling was about school safety."
He held several positions that afforded him
the opportunity to pursue this laudable interest, including
that of Branch Manager for School Safety and Drop-Out
Prevention and the Coordinator of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
at the Kentucky Department of Education, the Coordinator of
Safe School Assessments for the Kentucky Center for School
Safety, as well as an education consultant with
Environmental Safety Strategies, just to name a few.
There are so, so many people who will never
forget Steve; not because they knew him, but because they
sincerely liked, respected and admired him. He was a joy to
be around because he was humorous, thoughtful, unassuming,
compassionate, selfless, empathetic and bright. He was a
real gift to us all, and will be remembered by those of us
who loved him for different things that he meant to each of
us in different arenas and at different times. However, one
of the many things he left with us at the Kentucky Center
for School Safety was a strong legacy to continue our
efforts to work with others to make our schools as safe as
they can possibly be. Therefore, with the full knowledge
that this updated version of the Emergency Management Guide
began with Steve in its infancy, we believe it only fitting
that we dedicate this completed edition to his memory.
Lastly, on a lighter note, given the hours that have been
spent by many folks to complete this guide, somehow we can
just hear Steve utter a phrase that he often used to
compliment someone for undertaking and/or completing an
arduous task, "I have never been prouder of you than I am
right now."
Thank you, Steve
Kimberling, because you never failed to make us proud
either. We miss you and we’ll always love you.
