Jason Seaman, speaking publicly for the first time since the shooting Friday, thanked the Noblesville community for its support and stressed that he wanted the focus to be on the only other person shot during the incident: a 13-year-old student who was seriously wounded. The young attacker shot Seaman as well as a female student, who was in critical condition.  RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT NAME TO JASON SEAMAN - In this undated photo, provided by Southern Illinois University, Jason Seaman, a defensive end for the SIU football team, poses for a photo in Carbondale,... (Associated Press) 
 
 RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT NAME TO JASON SEAMAN - In this undated photo, provided by Southern Illinois University, Jason Seaman, a defensive end for the SIU football team, poses for a photo in Carbondale, Ill. "My actions on that day, in my mind, were the only acceptable actions I could have done," said Seaman, a 7th-grade science teacher at Noblesville West Middle School. (AP) — An Indiana teacher who was shot while tackling and disarming a student inside his classroom said Monday that his swift decisions "were the only acceptable actions" to save his seventh-grade students.  (CNN) Jason Seaman didn't give much thought to the most dangerous decision of his life. He downplayed his own heroism, saying that “my actions on that day, in my mind, were the only acceptable acts,” adding, “I deeply care for my students.” 
 
 One of those students, Ella Whistler, remains hospitalized at Riley Hospital for Children, and is making progress, Noblesville Schools Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer said Monday. "Her courage and strength at such a young age is nothing short of remarkable," Seaman said during a news conference at the school district's administrative building. Garbed in a T-shirt with his now signature quote — “You Are the Reason I Teach” — stretched across his broad chest, Seaman looked healthy as he stood at the podium addressing media. The initials EW appear in italics along with the name of the show choir in which Ella performs. Seaman also thanked a Noblesville High School student who set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for his medical bills 
 
 "I can't really fathom how someone I have not personally met would do such an act of kindness and how the Noblesville community has been so generous in its response to it," he said. That is why I did what I did that day." Seaman is credited with stopping the armed student who entered his Noblesville West Middle School on Friday morning. "I want to make it clear that my actions on that day, in my mind, were the only acceptable actions I could have done given the circumstances," Seaman said.
– The "only acceptable actions." That's how seventh-grade science teacher Jason Seaman described his actions in stopping a young gunman who burst into his classroom at Noblesville West Middle School in Indiana last week. Seaman was shot himself as he ran and tackled the shooter, and he spoke for the first time publicly on Monday, though he downplayed his heroism. "My actions on that day, in my mind, were the only acceptable actions I could have done," said Seaman, per CNN. "I deeply care for my students and their well-being. So that is why I did what I did." Seaman devoted the rest of his brief news conference to praising first-responders and 13-year-old Ella Whistler, the only other person shot. She remains hospitalized. Details and developments: Ella: "Her courage and strength is nothing short of remarkable," Seaman said of the girl. He said she remained calm as they waited for help, and he thanked the school resource officer and school nurse for helping her stay "alert and calm," reports the Indianapolis Star. Noblesville's school chief said Monday that Ella was improving at Riley Hospital for Children. Injuries: Seaman underwent surgery Friday for his wounds—his family says he was shot three times, in the abdomen, hip, and shoulder—and he did not elaborate on his injuries. He showed no sign of pain or those injuries at the news conference, notes the AP. Seaman did not take questions from reporters.