The National Road Safety Foundation bestowed on July 13 the Innovation in the Classroom Award to School Resource Officer (SRO) Kristen Mayo of the Round Rock Police Department. The Department was also recognized as a Model Agency by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO).

The award is presented for innovations in the classroom that educate young people about traffic safety. Mayo was selected for her efforts to build bridges and break barriers between students, teachers, administrators and law enforcement. For example, she created Safe Prom Week, a week-long event that raised awareness of the consequences of impaired driving and bad decisions, which included a public safety fair, wrecked car demonstrations and a “reality education for drivers,” with simulators that dramatically demonstrated the impact of impairment on reaction time.

The recognitions were made at the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) annual School Safety Conference. More than 900 police officers, educators and others are receiving specialized training at the conference.

NASRO recognized five police agencies for exemplifying in their training, policies and standards the NASRO triad concept, which describes three main parts of an SRO’s role: mentor, guest lecturer and law enforcement officer. Model agencies also demonstrate creative and innovative approaches to school-based policing. The following agencies received the organization’s Model Agency award:

• Round Rock Police Department, Round Rock, Texas
• Canton Police Department, Canton, Mich.
• Peoria Police Department, Peoria, Ariz.
• South Fayette Township Police Department, Morgan, Penn.
• Wallenpaupack Area School Police, Hawley, Penn.

About NASRO

NASRO is a nonprofit organization for school-based law enforcement officers, school administrators, and school security and safety professionals working as partners to protect students, school faculty and staff, and the schools they attend. NASRO is located in Hoover, Alabama, and it was established in 1991. For more information, visit www.nasro.org