School safety has put a spotlight on student resource officer programs run by law enforcement agencies across the country. Politicians and parents alike have called for more funding to put more resource officers in schools to keep children safe while they learn.
The responsibilities of an SRO include the ability to make arrests and respond to an emergency. School resource officers also take on additional duties like mentoring and extra-curricular activity. However, one Triad SRO has taken a different approach to his job description.
"If you're having a bad day and you come in and see a child smiling, they sit down and talk to you. It goes the same for the kids too, you don't know what they are going through but they can just sit down with you, have a conversation and laugh because laughter is good," said Deputy Shane Woodall of the Rockingham County Sheriff's Department.
Deputy Woodall is an SRO at the Dalton McMichael High School in Mayodan. He's worked in that capacity for 14 out of the 27 years he has been in law enforcement. Woodall's primary job is to make sure violent intruders stay outside McMichael High School and the students stay safe. But while he is inside the school with the students, he has found unique ways to make sure his students also stay sane.
"We have two kids here at McMichael that are battling cancer, a ninth grader named Bailey Smith and an eleventh grader name Bailey Mitchell and we've created the #BaileyStrong and #BradyStrong," said Woodall who was at the hospital this past Sunday visiting Bailey.
On his way back he said he got a call from Brady's mother telling him that her son's hair was starting to fall off.
"She wanted to know if I could come over and cut it. I have clippers but I don't have any hair."
I have No Hair
The journey to Woodall's baldness is part of the mechanism he has employed as an SRO to connect with the students.
"I lost mine several years ago," he said with a hearty chuckle as he recalled one of the marks the students have left on him.
"I challenged some kids playing softball. They took the razor and the shaving cream and I was worried about getting cut but I didn't get cut and I had to go fix it once I got home," said Woodall as he lifted his black hat to reveal his nature-shaven head.
After he helped cut Brady's hair, they talked about how he got a haircut from the softball team. Brady played on the high school's baseball team before his cancer diagnosis. Along with teammate Lane Knight, they came up with an idea that served as therapy for the students came up. To challenge the students on the baseball team and any who wished to volunteer.
"I told the kids why don't we cut our hair for those kids, to symbolize a good thing for them to make them feel even though they are not here everyone is still thinking about them and caring about them."
Buzz, Buzz, Buzz
Last week at a baseball game, more than 25 students put clippers to their hair to support their friends.
"We've been through this more than one time with losing students and stuff and it's just been difficult and Officer Woodall just been there to help all of us," said an emotionally overcome Carley Easler. Easler is a friend of Bailey's and just one of many at the high school echoing praises for their SRO.
"He's somebody that you can actually come to in the school and trust and he's just an inspirational person," said Lane Knight, Woodall's partner on the head-shaving challenge.
"You are not just a police officer walking the streets you are a mentor and a friend. We are here with them we do a lot of extracurricular stuff and I see a lot of these kids more than I see my own daughter," added Woodall as he spoke about his dedication.
"It's just good to see the kids smile and to just be a positive role model to the kids," he concluded.
Easler and Knight both said he's helped them and the entire school through what has been a very challenging time.
"We always know that no matter what's going on whether school related or outside of school you can always talk to officer Woodall.
Deputy Woodall is also the coordinator for the Rockingham County Special Olympics. Last year he took 14 special needs students to the prom. He got clothes and a limo ride for them and made sure they got the royal treatment.