School honors girl's bravery in attempted Walmart abduction

Just days after a Haralson County second-grader was nearly kidnapped in a Bremen Walmart, the girl shared her experience with her classmates.

The image of Brittney Baxter fighting her way out of a man's arms struck a chord with parents across the country.

Now, Brittney's school in Tallapoosa, Ga., is using the incident as a teaching tool.

Brittney's teachers told Channel 2's Diana Davis they hope it will be an important safety lesson other children will never forget.

Tallapoosa primary school counselor Emily Altman told Davis, "I feel like Brittney is now able to be like the ambassador for this, and our children now have had a conversation with their parents."

On Friday, Brittney and Tallapoosa police reinforced the message at an assembly for the school children.

Brittney Baxter

The video of her attempted abduction played in the background.

When Channel 2 Action News spoke to Brittney shortly after the attempted abduction, she said, "I just said, 'I'm going to see what my momma is doing,' and he just grabbed me and picked me up. I was just trying to do like this and kick as hard as I can."

The lesson sank in with Brittney's classmates.

"I thought she would be scared. She's very brave. I'm not as brave at Brittney," second-grader Grace Johns said.

Teachers and parents told Davis they believe children can be equally brave and quick-thinking if they receive repeated safety messages.

Brittney's family and teachers said they reviewed the rules for encounters with strangers just days before the incident. Police said her actions scared the man way. Police identified the suspect as Thomas Woods, away

Walmart attempted abduction surveillance

"I do think it was a combination of her parents, her brother has just recently talked with her, and then a couple of weeks ago was when we finished up our lessons on that," Altman said.

Every year the school said it offers children a safety class on the dangers of sexual predators.

Altman said each year some parents will not let their children participate. The school hopes from now on it will have 100 percent participation.