Kirk Moore: 5 things to know about Paul Valley High School principal after video of him tackling gunman goes viral

Kirk Moore: 5 things to know about Paul Valley School principal

1. Kirk Moore also attended Pauls Valley High School before becoming principal. He attended school there in 1984, according to his Facebook profile.
2. Moore’s Facebook profile shows he is engaged and his family includes daughter Mackenzie Moore and son Tyson Moore. Erin Wallace is also listed as his daughter, Clint Moore is listed as his brother, and Linda is listed as his mother. One woman, Carolyn Staggs Stalcup, is listed as a “family member” on her profile.
3. Moore is recovering from the shooting and said in a statement that he looks forward to returning to work. “Words alone cannot express how grateful I am for the outpouring of love and support from the Pauls Valley community. I am forever grateful for the support I received from those close to me and my new friends who wished me well in their prayers. This support is the reason I am healthy and well today,” Moore wrote in the statement.
4. Many of Moore’s former students and old friends have nothing but praise for the man. “If a student was hurt, he would definitely take a bullet for him. I believe that,” a former student told KSL. A childhood friend commented: “He was a hero. He didn’t think about himself. He thought about the kids.”
5. Moore’s Facebook profile provides insight into his thoughts and the people he admires. An Oklahoma school principal quoted John Wayne, known for his tough roles in Hollywood westerns. “Life is hard, and it’s even harder if you’re stupid,” read a quote posted on his social media profile.

Moore said in the remainder of the statement released after the shooting, “Paul Valley Schools are safe communities not accustomed to the type of threats we witnessed on Tuesday. Nonetheless, like many educators across the country, we prepare for these events through training and careful assessment of threats. I am grateful for my intuition and training and the hand of God that came to me on Tuesday.”