Nurturing Relationships to Increase School Safety
Learning is most effective when schools are safe and welcoming environments for all students and adults. Springfield Schools’ leaders recognize and know that their first responsibility is to foster such a culture. School staff, parents, community members and policymakers alike know that a school resource officer (SRO) can play an integral role in ensuring the physical safety of a school building and all inside. In earlier editions, we’ve introduced readers to Springfield’s Director of Safety Brett Warner and Sheriff’s Deputy Aalea Robertson. Recently, these two professionals were joined by Deputy Sheriff (Ret.) Ralph Green, who is assigned to Springfield Middle School. All three play a very important role in our district and serve as important resources to welcome, counsel and mentor students. Each of our SROs, like their teaching colleagues and administrators, are student-focused and possess skills as terrific educators. They also are available to assist at all school buildings should the need arise.
If you have yet to meet “Officer Ralph,” as he is known by our SMS students, we’d like you to know that:
•Officer Ralph served our nation as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps for four years.
•After serving for 26 years, Officer Ralph retired from the Lucas County Sheriff’s Department.
•Officer Ralph served as an SRO in the Washington Local and Toledo Public districts.
•Officer Ralph has both coached (baseball, 10 years) and served as a high school basketball referee.
•Officer Ralph has been married to his wife, Berdonna, for 29 years and is also an elder at his church.
There has been considerable discussion about the importance of SROs in schools. For those who are not aware, there is a distinction between an SRO and a police officer or security guard assigned to work at a school. Our SROs, each of whom is specially trained to protect and serve the education environment, also play an important role within our safe-schools team by ensuring a safe and secure campus.
This includes educating students about law-related topics, mentoring students as informal advisers, serving as role models and as resources to principals on all safety matters.
