Beyond Enforcement: The Evolving Role of School Resource Officers
This episode of the School Safety Today podcast explores the evolving and often misunderstood role of School Resource Officers (SROs) in K-12 schools. Host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Dr. Penny Schultz of Chesapeake Public Schools about how effective SROs go beyond law enforcement to serve as mentors, problem-solvers, and community builders. The discussion highlights best practices for integrating SROs into school culture to support both safety and student well-being.
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Key takeaways
Effective SROs serve as mentors and community connectors, not just enforcement officers.
Chesapeake Public Schools uses a relationship-based model to integrate SROs into school culture.
Reframing the SRO role is key to improving student trust and overall school safety outcomes.
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School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.
In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Penny Schultz, Assistant Director of School Safety and Security at Chesapeake Public Schools, to unpack the often-misunderstood role of School Resource Officers (SROs). The conversation highlights how effective SROs function not just as law enforcement, but as trusted partners embedded in school culture—supporting prevention, early intervention, and relationship-based safety practices across campuses.
KEY POINTS:
1. SROs are most effective when fully integrated into school culture, not just crisis response
2. Relationship-building and trust are central to prevention and early intervention
3. Strong collaboration between educators, administrators, and SROs improves campus safety
Our guest, Penny Schultz, is the Assistant Director of School Safety and Security for Chesapeake Public Schools in Virginia. She brings a rare, cross-disciplinary perspective to school safety, having served as a police officer, classroom teacher, campus administrator, and district-level leader. Dr. Schultz is widely respected for her relationship-based, prevention-focused approach to campus safety, emphasizing collaboration among educators, School Resource Officers, mental health professionals, and community first responders. Her work centers on early intervention, trust-building with students and families, and embedding safety practices into the everyday culture of schools.
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