As the new academic year continues its successful start, UHS School Resource Officer (SRO) Chad Burnett is hard at work keeping the students and staff of UHS safe. Despite recent critiques, SRO Burnett sets out to inform the public that his role at UHS is rooted in pushing the students in his building to be the best they can be both inside and outside of the classroom. During a brief sit-down, SRO Burnett discussed how he became an SRO, how he helps out during remote learning, and how he hopes to see Urbana become better.
Officer Burnett, how did you find yourself becoming a school resource officer?
When the job opening came up, I thought that this would be a good fit as I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. I have teaching experience and thought this would be a good opportunity to use some of that knowledge and background. What inspired you to become an officer and what influences how you interact with students and teachers here? I became an Officer because it gave me an opportunity to help others. I feel being an SRO gives me the chance to interact with youth on a daily basis. I feel that a lot of youth today have a certain level of apprehension towards Officers and seeing me every day in the building being respectful, polite, and interacting with them will hopefully change those feelings. I hope to change that negative stereotype that youth have with Officers. I would hope that my being in the school brings both teachers and students a sense of safety and not fear.
Having an education background and being in schools prior to being an Officer has definitely helped me prepare for my role as an SRO.
SRO Chad Burnett
We have a lot of leaders across our school, and here UHS, you’re considered one of our leaders. What guides your leadership as an SRO here at UHS? Are there specific principles and practices you follow that guide you or is it all just training?
I truly believe that the NASRO triad is a strong foundation for how we should do this job. It is based on three principles, Education, Counselor and Enforcement. I think the first two being key, the more you can educate youth and counsel them will bring a better understanding of each other. Obviously, there is an enforcement side of the job, but it is not my goal to remove students from school unless circumstances or safety concerns dictate it must happen. It is my belief that students should have the structure of a safe learning environment to prepare them for life. And I believe that mutual RESPECT amongst each other’s roles is key.
Now, there are a lot of people who really don’t know that there is a huge difference between a police officer and a school resource officer. Could you explain to us the differences?
First off an SRO is a Police Officer and has the same responsibilities to uphold laws. However, SRO’s working within a school campus have many more options on how they handle situations within the building. SRO’s can take a more interventionist approach with students and guide them in a different direction other than making an immediate arrest as an Officer might do on the street. SRO’s can work together with school administrators to find the appropriate intervention for situations that arise.
With you working with a specific population here at UHS, I’m sure that training and preparation for this role were much different from that of a police officer in the city. What does training actually look like from an SRO?
I have attended training through NASRO (National Association of School Resource Officers). This training prepares you for your role as an SRO. The training is geared towards adolescent and teen development which gives you a better understanding of juvenile behaviors. I also have attended training regarding Youth Mental Health. Having an education background and being in schools prior to being an Officer has definitely helped me prepare for my role as an SRO.
How do you see that training coming into your everyday work?
I think the training just provides you a better understanding of why certain things happen when they do and gives you a head start to finding a resolution.
To take a break from just job duties, tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is Chad?
Chad is a husband and a father of three. I enjoy spending time with family and friends at sporting events. I am a sports enthusiast. I think if I had to describe myself I would say that I am a laid back down to earth person. I believe that I am respectful and polite and believe in the golden rule “treat others as you would like to be treated.”
Is there an earlier connection or occurrence that inspired you to specifically be an SRO?
As I have said before, I have an education background and I enjoy working with students. I feel that being an Officer and now an SRO I can enjoy both positions at the same time.
Now, I’m sure that every day is different as an SRO. But typically, what does a day look like from the students arriving to the last few minutes of them leaving?
As students arrive at the school I attempt to meet them as they come in and try to say “Good Morning” to as many as I can. I am present in the hallways and try to greet everyone during passing periods. While students are in classes this gives me a chance to check doors and the building to look for safety concerns. I will attend meetings with administrators to discuss any safety concerns or situations that may have happened outside of school that could carry into a school day. I will normally join staff and students in the cafeteria throughout lunches to hopefully meet students and get to know them better. If a situation arises that I am called to assist with, I assist as needed. As the school day wraps up I try to find a door and send students off with a “Good Bye” and make sure everyone leaves safely. If there is a sporting event or event that I am needed for in the evening then I will be back to assist with that as well.
There are a lot of people and a lot of studies that express how officers in school can make the atmosphere tense for a lot of students, even those who aren’t often getting in trouble. What are you doing day by day to minimize that and create a connection with all of these students here at UHS? I, unfortunately, was not in the building long before Covid-19 hit; however, it was my goal to be present in the hallways and cafeteria when students were present to greet them with a smile and say hello. What about teacher support? How are you supporting them on a day by day basis? I am available for teachers to ask questions and assist them at any time. I have been asked to address business law classes as well as assist with Drivers Ed classes in the short time that I was in the building.
With students really not in the building right now, what are you doing?
I have been busy with Chromebook distribution and helped organize the textbook distribution boxes. I assist the SRS’s with duties making sure Covid 19 protocols are followed by visitors as they come to the building. I have been assisting teachers with taking assignments to student’s homes when they don’t have access to transportation. I help monitor the learning hub as students come to the building. I have been assisting with meal distributions as well. I have also provided transportation for students to and from the learning hub when needed.
And of course, there are a lot more community concerns in addition to what we’ve already discussed. Between targeting specific student groups to students feeling less safe with officers in the buildings. What would you like to say to those community members who are questioning your role when it comes to those concerns?
I would like to say that my main goal as an SRO is not to patrol the school and look to remove students from the school but it is my goal to keep the students in the building. My goal being in the school is to guide students in the right direction to keep them in their learning environment and to encourage them to go to class and get their education. By doing this respectfully and interacting with students I hope at the same time this might change student’s perception of Officers and ease their apprehensions about having an SRO in the building. Ultimately I want parents, students, and staff to feel comfortable and safe in their educational environment.
And just to pull back a little near the end of this, what is your favorite thing about working in Urbana?
I think my favorite part of working in Urbana is the diversity I encounter with the job. Every day seems to bring some type of new experience.
And of course, we have our Urbana Better Together campaign. When it comes to that, I have a two-part question: 1. How do you hope to see Urbana get better, and 2. How do you think you are or hope to contribute to that growth?
I think in order to get better there has to be positive communication amongst everyone. Everyone needs to be open to change and willing to contribute to that. I think being in the school with juveniles and interacting every day looking to build positive relationships will be my strongest contribution to the campaign.