A teacher in Hartford is being praised for her actions during a lockdown at Prince Technical High School.
Cellphone video shows the teach armed with what appears to be a plastic pole, ready to strike the intuder.
The lockdown was prompted by a threat that ended up being a hoax.
A mother of one of Paula Butterfield's students is thanking the teacher for her heroic actions.
Shamikia Pitts said Butterfield, a biology teacher, did an excellent job.
"Thank you. I really appreciate everything you've done for children! And mine of course," Pitts said.
"She's a hero. She's really, really awesome. She did a good job!" Pitts added.
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Butterfield is seen on a quick cell phone video shot by Pitts' daughter. Right in the middle of a lock down at A.I. Prince Technical High School in Hartford Thursday morning.
State and local police swarmed the school after a threat was made on social media about shooting up the school lunch room.
Shamikia Pitts told NBC Connecticut, "When I asked Camani (daughter) she said the teacher grabbed a pole that was inside a plastic thing in a closet. And she came out, stood at that door and whatever she heard at that door she was gunna swing at it. Whatever would've came her way, she would've gotten them!"
Shamikia said she got a frantic phone call from her 10th grader Camani Bell Thursday morning, who was inside that classroom along with 15 other teenagers.
Superintendent Dr. Nivea Torres told NBC Connecticut, "The safety of our students is always our top priority. The example of Mrs. Butterfield demonstrates the commitment of all Prince Tech educators and how seriously we take that responsibility. We are also very grateful for our partners with the State Police who responded quickly and determined that there was not a threat."
There have not been any arrests following yesterday’s incident and State Troopers tell us this is the fifth school threat they've responded to this academic school year.
