At 12.51 p.m. on Tuesday, 22 February, Christchurch and the Canterbury region were hit with a 6.4 magnitude earthquake. While not as strong as the 7.1 magnitude earthquake experienced in September, this one was much more violent in its intensity and also occurred in the middle of a busy working and school day. A hundred and eighty people died in this tragic event, with many more injured, buildings and homes destroyed and some schools remaining closed. The New Zealand Educational Leadership and Administration Society (NZEALS) was grateful to receive messages of support from sister organisations around the world, and is pleased to share this story of one educational leader's experience following the earthquake. Barry Brooker is President of the Canterbury Branch of NZEALS and Associate Dean at the University of Canterbury, College of Education. He spoke to the author about the experience.