Widow of coach killed in Parkland shooting attends Guardian training

BARTOW (FOX 13) - The widow of the coach who ran toward danger in the Parkland school shooting made a special stop in Polk County Wednesday.

Melissa Feis arrived - with her daughter, Ariel at her side - to the sound of gunfire at the Polk County Sheriff's Office Training Center to meet with participants of the Aaron Feis Guardian Program. 

Aaron Feis was unarmed when he ran into gunfire to save students from an active shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School back in February. He was shot and killed.

"We are very thankful to come up and have the opportunity to see this program actually fulfilled," she said.

Wednesday marked the first time the grieving widow has spoken in public.

She came from South Florida at the urging of her now close friend Andy Pollack, who lost his daughter, Meadow in the massacre.

After a firing session, Feis and Pollack thanked each of the trainees and shook their hands.

About 130 people are training for the Guardian program. Starting in mid-July, Polk County will start hiring for 90 open positions.

Each Guardian will be assigned to a school by fall. Their only job will be to protect and defend in case a shooter shows up.

"We just want to do our best to show them that we really do care," said trainee Yari Dobson.

Feis said if her husband was still alive, he would be impressed by that kind of commitment.

"He would be ecstatic," Feis said. "I have no doubt about that."