As I continue in providing information on the annual operations of the Sheriff’s Department, I feel this is a great time to focus on the amazing school liaison resources that we share with our school districts. If we look at the makeup of our community on any given weekday, there is no greater concentration of people and activity than that of our schools. It is fitting that we allocate resources to these important members of our community; our students, in a setting that has such a great impact on their current and future lives.
As it pertains to the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department, we provide two School Liaison Deputies to both the Luxemburg-Casco, and Algoma School District as part of a contract for services. These positions and their duties are quite unique and the skill set necessary to be successful is also unique. We are very fortunate to have the two Deputies we currently provide to the school who possess the very traits and qualities to make this a successful relationship. Deputy Nia DuBois is our School Liaison Deputy for the Luxemburg-Casco High School, and Deputy Dana Schopf is our Liaison Deputy for the Primary, Intermediate, and Middle Schools in both L-C and Algoma along with covering the High School In Algoma. Both of these young ladies bring with them a great deal of energy and passion for working with our youth, and the relationships they have built over the years have been a great benefit to not only the students but the staff as well.
Something new for 2024 will be the introduction of a Resiliency and Social Emotional educational program known as GRIT. This program is similar to one we incorporated a few years ago with some unique improvements to reflect the dynamic environment that our students are navigating. I will be sharing more on that in the upcoming months!
Just as in any community, those school communities experience a great diversity in personalities, backgrounds, and behaviors. The ability to have a law enforcement resource at hand when incidents arise has proven essential time and time again.
Another valuable aspect of this program is the ability for our Deputies to have daily interaction and engagement positively to demonstrate that the men and women serving in law enforcement are human beings who can serve as not just a resource for filing complaints or conducting investigations, but also as a trusted resource of advice and mentorship for the many challenges our young people face day in and day out.
These roles, while rewarding, are probably some of the most demanding in our department. The complaints they are called to investigate and the sensitivity that they must show require a great deal of empathy, compassion, and patience. The ability to interact effectively with Students, staff, and parents is key to maintaining the trust needed for such a program to be successful.
In addition to all of this responsibility, both of these amazing ladies return back to the Jail/ Dispatch role when needed, as well as during the summer months.
Thank you, Nia and Dana, for all that you do in our schools to keep our students safe and assist the staff in creating the best learning environment possible.
