It was a scene designed to invite fear.
A hulking figure with an oversized silver helmet and football padding underneath blue overalls plodded toward lone sixth graders in a self-defense role-playing scenario that, to those on the receiving end, felt very real.
The masked terror, erratic in his gait, yelled faux pleas for help and lobbed threats as he inched closer to students at the Santa Fe Girls School who had just been equipped with the vocal tools to confront uncomfortable situations like these — and the physical ones in case easier methods failed.
“No!” shouted Iris Noger, 12, as self-defense instructor Amber Quintana, 32, stood behind her giving cues to control her space and breath.
With the added guidance, Iris’ voice grew thunderous. But with the villain inching closer, she ca