Sandy Hook teacher shares story of bravery with Pittsburgh area school district

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher, who shielded her students from danger, was in New Castle Tuesday.

Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis, a first-grade teacher, spoke to the New Castle Area School District's staff and community members.

Roig-DeBellis recalled her students had just finished sharing their holiday traditions before the Dec. 2012 fatal shooting of 20 children and six adults.

"We were in the first classroom in the school, so when the shooting began, I knew immediately that we were in imminent danger because I heard the very first shot fired," she said.

"I had their undivided attention.  It was a quiet time of day.  I closed the door.  I turned the lights off.  I couldn't lock the door because the keys were across the room.  I said, 'We need to get in the bathroom right away,'" Roig-DeBellis said.

Sixteen children waited in a tiny bathroom until they were rescued by police. 

Roig-DeBellis was in town Tuesday to promote a non-profit she has founded.  Classes4Classes encourages students to assist other students.

WPXI