Mr. Lafko’s health classes learned about the importance of safe driving practices through Zoom presentations from the Honorable Justice Shannon Filbert on November 9.

Justice Filbert knows firsthand how important driving safety is. At the age of 16, a time Justice Filbert describes as feeling invincible, she was in a motor vehicle accident. As the front seat passenger and not wearing a seatbelt, she suffered a spinal cord injury that resulted in her becoming a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic.

Despite this hardship, and grateful to have survived, she continued to persevere and work to help others. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo and Juris Doctorate from the University at Buffalo Law School, Filbert went on to serve multiple roles, including: member and board member of local organizations, part-time work on the Criminal Defense panel of the Erie County Bar Association Aid to Indigent Prisoner Society, Inc., part-time town prosecutor, and attorney for the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc. Children Unit. Filbert currently serves as a West Seneca Town Justice. She was the first woman justice in West Seneca, elected in 2016. In addition, she has received multiple recognitions for her accomplishments.

While Justice Filbert’s story is inspirational, she also uses it to educate students to make safe choices when going behind the wheel. This includes the decision to not drive distracted or impaired. During her presentation, Justice Filbert reminded students that while they may feel invincible, no one is.  

This presentation was held thanks to the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Traffic Safety Speaker Panel in coordination with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).