Agent Wong has worked at Pace for eight years, helping keep all schools in the building safe. He takes pride in understanding and caring for the youth.
In school, we often overlook the hard work of school safety officers. They play a big role in keeping our environment safe, yet many students ignore or underestimate their efforts.
These officers handle conflicts, prevent dangerous situations, and make sure everyone follows the rules. Instead of seeing them as just authority figures, we should recognize that they are here to protect us. Showing respect, following school rules, and cooperating with them can make their jobs easier.
By understanding their role, we can help create a more supportive school community.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
What is school safety?
School safety agents cover schools, community events, block parties, back to school giveaways, sport events, parades and marathons. The school agents do checks and body scans to make sure the people at these events stay safe.
How did you get into school safety? What made you want to join school safety?
After finishing my service in the United States Army for 15 years, I wanted to work in school safety because it was a different environment than being in the army. I wanted to see how the younger generation grows up. It’s interesting.
What’s your main responsibility in order to keep students safe? What do you do to take care of conflicts?
We try to make sure students don’t do anything bad. I know sometimes they have depression or they might lose their temper. It depends on the situation, but with regular fighting, we mostly leave the school to handle it. If someone has a weapon, then they would be committing a crime, so we would have to step in and enforce the law.
What can students do to help keep our school safe?
Students come to school to learn, they don’t come to break the rules or commit any crimes. I want students to understand we are here to help not here to harass. You do your job, we do ours. We just want to keep everyone safe.
Do you have any advice for students?
What I try to tell them is that your goal, your responsibility is to come to school and learn to get your degree. We want everyone to just get along. We’re in the building together six hours a day five days a week, and we see each other more than our family members. So learn, have fun with your friends, and be kind.
