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Victoria Soto: Sandy Hook teacher who wanted to mould young minds | Victoria Soto: Sandy Hook teacher who wanted to mould young minds |
(21 days later) | |
A teacher who died trying to protect her children in Sandy Hook school has been described as a dedicated educator who had her dream job. | A teacher who died trying to protect her children in Sandy Hook school has been described as a dedicated educator who had her dream job. |
Victoria Soto, 27, was one of six adults and 20 children killed in the elementary school shooting on Friday. | Victoria Soto, 27, was one of six adults and 20 children killed in the elementary school shooting on Friday. |
It is thought Soto died trying to shield her students. According to a cousin, Jim Wiltsie, a police officer, said the family had been told that Soto was attempting to get her class into a closet when the gunman entered the room. "In our eyes, she's a hero," Wiltsie told ABC News. | It is thought Soto died trying to shield her students. According to a cousin, Jim Wiltsie, a police officer, said the family had been told that Soto was attempting to get her class into a closet when the gunman entered the room. "In our eyes, she's a hero," Wiltsie told ABC News. |
"She was trying to shield, getting her children into a closet and protect them from harm. And by doing that put herself between the gunman and the children and that is when she was tragically shot and killed." | "She was trying to shield, getting her children into a closet and protect them from harm. And by doing that put herself between the gunman and the children and that is when she was tragically shot and killed." |
Wiltsie said the family had taken some comfort in knowing that Soto died while doing a job that she loved. | Wiltsie said the family had taken some comfort in knowing that Soto died while doing a job that she loved. |
"Her life dream was to be a teacher and her instincts kicked in when she saw there was harm coming towards her students," he told ABC News, adding: "She lost her life doing what she loved. She loved her kids. Her goal in life was to be a teacher to mould young minds." | "Her life dream was to be a teacher and her instincts kicked in when she saw there was harm coming towards her students," he told ABC News, adding: "She lost her life doing what she loved. She loved her kids. Her goal in life was to be a teacher to mould young minds." |
Her desire to educate started at an early age, those close to the teacher said. As well as teaching first grade, Soto was also studying for a master's degree in special education at Southern Connecticut State University. She graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with an elementary education and history degree. "I have a passion for learning," she wrote on her online teacher's page. | Her desire to educate started at an early age, those close to the teacher said. As well as teaching first grade, Soto was also studying for a master's degree in special education at Southern Connecticut State University. She graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with an elementary education and history degree. "I have a passion for learning," she wrote on her online teacher's page. |
Soto listed her passions outside school as spending time with family members, along with her dog, a black Labrador named Roxie. Soto had been at the school for five years, first as an intern, then as a classroom teacher. | Soto listed her passions outside school as spending time with family members, along with her dog, a black Labrador named Roxie. Soto had been at the school for five years, first as an intern, then as a classroom teacher. |
"I look forward to an amazing year in the first grade with my amazing students of room 10!" she wrote. | "I look forward to an amazing year in the first grade with my amazing students of room 10!" she wrote. |
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