A line of teachers standing outside Poughkeepsie Middle School on Friday morning called attention to recent violence in the district. 

"Our belief is that everybody has the right to a safe working environment, and students need a safe environment to learn in," said Stephanie Green, president of Poughkeepsie Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA).

On Tuesday, a student brought a loaded handgun to the high school in his backpack. The 19-year-old has since been arrested and charged with weapon possession. 

The next day, a sixteen year old was stabbed by another teen, one block north of the middle school.

"Some of the things we used to say is, when is it enough? Is it enough when a student gets hurt? Is it enough when a staff member gets hurt? But we’ve, at this point, blown by that," Green said. 

Green has been teaching for nineteen years. She says support from the community, and the board of education, will shape safer schools.

"The environment of the schools, that's a symptom of the environment of the community," Green said.

Poughkeepsie High School is one of eight schools in the district, and many teachers here just want their voices heard for the many safety concerns they have for the faculty and students that come through these buildings every day. 

"We always want to be at the table to try and problem solve. But we have to stop talking about talking. We have to put action into those plans. A plan is a plan until you actually take action on it," Green said.

In the meantime, the PPSTA continues to work for safer schools.