After-care supervisor fired after telling elementary school students about Sandy Hook shooting

NORTHPORT (WABC) -- GiGi Kearns is heartbroken that she was fired for doing what she was paid to do - protect students. Kearns is a retired police officer who worked as an after-care supervisor at Dickinson Avenue Elementary School in East Northport for 15 years.

Kearns says last month, they were required to do a lockdown drill. Some of the kids, she says, did not take the drill very seriously.

"One of the kids shouted 'hey guys, we're doing this drill because of Sandy Hook'," says Kearns, "after the drill was over, I brought the six kids who weren't behaving - I brought them over to speak with them."

Kearns says one of the children asked what Sandy Hook was, so she explained to them. The children asked to see pictures of Adam Lanza and the scene.

"We showed them pictures of a SWAT team and parents crying, and then a teacher escorting them out for safety," Kearns adds.

Kearns says one parent complained to school staff. Days later, those with SCOPE Education Services, which runs the after-care program, fired her.

"I don't understand - you have someone who can keep your kids safe, and you get rid of them. It doesn't make any sense," she says.

Eyewitness News spoke with parents whose children Kearns had spoken to about Sandy Hook. They say she did nothing wrong, and deserves her job back.

"I think we've gone to a tipping point in our culture, and the fear of the PC police and lawsuits have actually started destroying people's lives, and I think when people like GiGi, who simply wants to help our kids is thrown under the bus, something is seriously wrong," says parent Bill Blaney.

More than 600 people have signed an online petition saying that SCOPE management rushed to judgment. The petition includes signatures from parents whose children were at Sandy Hook at the time of the massacre.

George Duffy, the Executive Director of SCOPE Education Services told Eyewitness News that he is legally prohibited from discussing the situation.

"All decisions are made in the best interest of the children attending our programs," Duffy said.

In the meantime, Kearns anxiously awaits a phone call welcoming her back to the job.