10/05/2026
The following is copied from a post from Maria Villavecencio, MNTOY finalist in 2026 and 2020. Maria was present at the Eden Prairie football game Oct. 2 when a shooting occurred outside the stadium:
This was supposed to be a fun weekend full of celebrations and re-connections. As a proud EP alumni (class of ‘94), and a 2026 MNTOY finalist, I looked forward to an awesome Homecoming game celebrating former students and visiting with colleagues.
After work, I reconnected with a dear friend who teaches at the Middle School and we enjoyed an early dinner before heading to the High School. We parked at the far end of the Community Center- not our first rodeo… we did not want to get stuck in traffic leaving.
As we entered the field, we met up with more colleagues, leaders, friends and former families. Many laughs and hugs were shared. My heart was full. At the halftime show the stadium cheered for our 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees. Feelings of pride, joy and hope engulfed me as I stood surrounded by these amazing people. The game continued… it was exciting… evenly matched… then things began to shift.
My friend and I noticed crowds of kids running beyond the fence, they ran south, then they ran north… large clouds of kids. Security and admin headed in that direction. The game continued and I missed the touchdown as I was distracted by more admin and communications started running… this all happened really fast… first responders arrived. My friend and I looked at each other and knew something had happened.
Instinct kicked in… self check- looked around- children, families, elderly, exits… suddenly I was handed a 6 year old- mom on the phone- we made eye contact-clearly an emergency. We got close to a security vehicle and I crouched over him to become a human shield. The child was scared… “Why are people running?”- I am not sure buddy… oh look over there! Our team scored and they are going to kick the ball. His little heart was beating fast. “Why are there so many emergency cars?”- I bet someone got hurt and a friend called for help bud.
At this time his mom arrived and now has his 4 year old sibling with her. She is also trying to figure out what is happening and entrusts me with both children. More emergency vehicles! An announcement to evacuate the field is made. We watched in awe the bleachers clear out in minutes and people hurried to their cars. “Why are they leaving?”-The game is over bud. Look! I think those are drones… how many can you count? (I can feel his little heart racing faster) I am hyper aware and watching the scene around me… it feels surreal. We are now surrounded by law enforcement and officers have large weapons displayed. “Why do they have guns?- They are here to make sure we are all safe. Mom, dad and their two children are reunited.
I breathe and now it is time for me to head into the crowd. My 2 friends and colleagues decide we are sticking together, we walk out. At this point I get a couple texts from friends -“You safe?” “Are you at HC?” We find out there was a shooting, the building is in lockdown, the north side parking lot is closed and the meeting spot is at Round Lake. We are surrounded by children and families who needed a ride. “Mrs.V!”, a little voice in the crowd… middle schoolers rush towards us. “My dad is not picking up!” panic in her voice, some children are crying, some don’t have phones, some have one but the battery died, some can’t find friends or family members, parents frantically looking for their children… us ensuring that children do not leave with strangers.
This is what we have been trained to do.
This is one of the scenes that has been on re-play in my mind and my dreams: the panic in the little eyes, the little hearts beating so fast, the panic in the voices… the deep sigh of relief as they see or hear each other.
Another colleague joins us and we help children and re direct families to meeting spot. Traffic is very slow, emergency personnel are guiding and helping everywhere. Colleagues and I are dumbfounded… is this real? Then realization hits… OMG!
This is what we have been trained for… this is so messed up!
Lockdown is lifted and now we have a new wave of students and staff that can’t access their vehicles and have to meet rides. A HS colleague finds us and shares some cookies. Traffic picks up and children and families are reuniting at a faster rate. My 3 colleagues and I continue to hang out by the pick up curb with now HS students and football players who are waiting for rides.
Suddenly:
“Are you proud of your people?” It takes me a minute to realize that someone is yelling from an open car window. There are four individuals with their hair and faces covered… and they continue to yell “Are you proud of your people?” I was confused and in the midst of chaos as we are helping children and parents reunite safely at night… I found it appalling. Mind you, we had been using our phones to contact families and help guide people… it was not until later that I realized that those screams were aimed at my Somali friend and colleague who has been next to me the whole time translating and explaining to frightened children and families what was going on… and guiding them to the meeting spot.
This is another scene on replay in my mind… “I should have…” 😣.
When all the students were gone the 4 of us hugged each other… this was a transformative experience… we headed towards our cars. I finally checked in with friends and family letting them know I was ok and heading home. I talked to Robert all the way home as I tried to recount my evening still in shock. He welcomed me home with a warm cup of tea and both sat down and then we watched in horror posts in social media. After being in the epicenter and witnessing the quick evacuation, all the fast responders that kept us safe and organized in a very scary situation, my colleagues and friends that stayed to help, translate and guide children and families… many posts were slaps on the face. I HAD to put away the device as the incredible blatant racial generalizations took over platforms and people joked about what we experienced. I did not sleep much.
I prayed for all those little hearts to find a peaceful rhythm in the safety of home.
I prayed that all our children and families made it home safely.
I prayed for all the people who rushed to help and keep thousands of us safe.
Yesterday I mourned for my EPHS students missing Homecoming Dance.
I was petrified for my niece and nephew who attended their Homecoming dance in Eagan. I did not want to ruin their experience, but urged them to have a plan and to ensure they had a fully charged phone.
I sat in a room with many of the people I was with on Friday night… including board members. We grieved, acknowledging the incredible teamwork it took to keep thousands of children and families safe. We all agree that guns and violence have no place in our schools. My heart felt a little lighter when I got home.
The nightmares continued though and the “what ifs” and “should haves” kept my mind busy.
The tears come and go… sad, angry, tired, resilient… I am riding an emotional roller coaster. I am journaling my thoughts and getting these out because they keep gnawing me from the inside. I have to let go and find footing because tomorrow I will need to be present for my students and their families through the horrible aftermath that a SENSELESS ACT OF GUN VIOLENCE created in our community.
This was supposed to be a fun weekend…
The following message is written on behalf of 2026 MNTOY David Davis, 2025 MNTOY Linda Wallenberg and the entire 2026 MNTOY finalist cohort:
Friday night’s shooting at the Eden Prairie homecoming game was a trauma no more students, parents, or educators should have to face anymore.
Behind the headlines is a story of profound heroism from first responders and educators – including our 2026 finalist colleague, Maria Villavicencio, whose firsthand account is shared above.
Shamefully, as Maria and her Somali colleague worked to reunite panicked families in the dark, they faced racist taunts – vitriol that is now being amplified online.
Weaponizing an act of violence to dehumanize an entire cultural community is simply racism, especially when it ignores the Somali Americans who were actively protecting children that very night.
That is not the human-centered Minnesota we are deep down.
As the 2025 and 2026 Minnesota Teachers of the Year, alongside our finalist colleagues, we stand united: we must universally condemn violence, support our schools in teaching non-violent conflict resolution, and actively reject dehumanizing “us vs. them” rhetoric.
Instead, let’s have the courage to lean into our shared humanity and choose empathy over division.
