Hearts heavy as students return to Birney Elementary | Crime

Hearts were heavy and eyes were filled with tears as Birney Elementary students and teachers went back to the classroom five days after an elementary school teacher was killed.

Special ed teacher Jennifer Paulson was shot and killed Friday morning in the school parking lot by a man who had been infatuated with her.

After some time off to tangle with emotions and attend Paulson's service, kids and teachers faced the very difficult challenge of trying to get back into their routines.           

Parents say they were worried about how their children would feel on this first day back after the murder at their school. Paulson had spent every day helping Diana Gutierrez' son become a better reader.

"(My son) is really nervous about going to school today," Gutierrez said. "I'm scared for him, because they were just that close."

Other students said they were nervous of the change of routine.

"There's gonna be lots of counselors and maybe people to take Ms. Paulson's place and maybe I don't know them," said fourth grader Shidarian Fonfield. "So yeah, I'm gonna be a little nervous."

Even preschoolers know that a teacher was killed here last Friday, but what capacity does a 4-year-old have to cope with that kind of loss?

"It's sad," said parent Angella Harris. "I don't want him to be sad all day for her."

School leaders are doing everything they can: Stationing police officers everywhere to make families feel safe, bringing in a dozen grief counselors, and encouraging teachers to allow the kids to express their emotions.

The Birney Elementary family must bear a heavy load, but they say they'll pull through.

"Unfortunately there's stuff we've been through," Harris said. "Now, we're kind of strong. We're strong."