PLANT CITY, Fla. — There're 213.5 miles separating Durant High School from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. 

  • Durant High teacher coping after losing friend at Parkland
  • Durant teacher Lia Grebus worked in Broward Co. with Chris Hixon, who died at Parkland
  • Durant students and staff took time to remember Parkland victims Thursday

A year ago today, 17 people lost their lives in a school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. But today, their Plant City hearts and tears made them feel as close as the nearest person they could hug.

"I just want people to understand that we're just students," said Durant Student Government President Jessie Gonzalez. "And we should feel safe in our environment here at school and everyone should feel safe in their environment. No one should be scared to come to school and learn." 

But one person here has the tragic weight of this day burdening her more than most. Lia Grebus used to teach at another high school in Broward County. And she lost a lot more than her sense of safety a year ago.

"Our athletic director and security guard, Chris Hixon ended up transferring to Stoneman Douglas," Grebus said. "And he lost his life a year ago today protecting students."

Grebus calls Hixon a hero. 

And her students made sure on this day, that she knew, they know that.

"Watching her relive that again this year has been so emotional," Gonzalez said. "We just want to make sure that we're here for her. And she has been so strong throughout all of this. 

Durant teacher Lia Grebus worked in Broward County with Christopher Hixon, who lost his life in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. (FILE image)

"She's the reason why we're doing everything that we're doing today."

Some Durant students and administrators said school hasn't been the same since a year ago. 

And although there's more security here, a lot of people still have a lot of fear, a lot of anger and sadness over what happened in Parkland. 

So teachers say they're going to take all of that and do what they do best, make it a teaching moment. 

"This has been really a form of therapy for me," Grebus said. "Being able to do this and everyone coming out and my kids so organized and so dedicated, so it's been just a beautiful experience. 

"Even though it's been such a tragedy."