Each summer, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers (SROs) conduct multiple scenario-based training exercises in our schools. The exercises help ensure they are prepared and coordinated in the event of an emergency and include “Stop the Bleed” training, active shooter drills, and other scenario-based response training. This year, some members of our Board of Education wanted to participate to better understand all that our SROs do to make sure they are ready.

Dr. Darlene Carey, Kayla Hendrix, Beverly Kelly, and Jared Callaway experienced the annual qualifications/physical training test and weapons qualification that is mandatory each year for being a Sheriff’s Deputy. Renee Lord attended the “Stop the Bleed” course.

“By attending the training, I gained valuable insight into how SROs are trained, the challenges they face, and how we as a board can better partner and support them to serve our schools effectively,” said Dr. Darlene Carey, Board of Education member for District 6. “I loved experiencing the obstacle course with the SRO team; that experience created a real sense of camaraderie. Working through those challenges fostered mutual respect and strengthened the connection between the board and our SROs.”

“These men and women are incredible people who love our children and care deeply about their well-being. I have so much respect for them and the Barrow County Sheriff's Office. My gratitude only deepened after a few hours with them. They are also great cheerleaders for those of us not used to completing PT training,” said Kayla Hendrix, Board of Education member for District 7 At-Large.

“I believe for us to be the best governance team, we must understand every facet of our system - from teachers to custodians to SROs to transportation. As a board, we often see numbers on a budget; however, I think we should know our people and what they truly do,” said Jared Callaway, Board of Education member for District 5.

Mr. Callaway added, "It was an honor to witness firsthand the dedication, sweat, equity, and true passion that our SROs in Barrow County have for their roles. Their unwavering commitment to our students, staff, and families is truly inspiring."