ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. — For 19 years, Sgt. Shane Woodall's made his presence known at McMichael High School.
"You just got to make sure when you're walking the halls, you've got to be vigilant. It goes back to seeing someone that you don't know who could potentially be in the school," Woodall said.
What You Need To Know
Many elements go into making sure a school is safe aside from locking doors and or walking the campus
A school resource officer enforces laws and educates students and faculty
SROs are taught what to look out for, what to do in the event of a threat and how to report suspicious activity
Woodall keeps a watchful eye, but he's very approachable.
"A lot of times, when classes change I'm in the hallway, lunchroom area. They can come up and say, 'hey, I need to talk to you,'" he said. "You know you build a rapport, and the kids are more apt to come to you, talk to you."
Woodall is a familiar face making his rounds throughout the day.
"You don't have to go to every class, when every class changes, just periodically stop in the classroom. Say hey — they put the name with the face and the uniform," he said.
Security is more than surveillance. Woodall makes sure doors are locked at all times.
However, a threat can already be inside.
"Anytime something like that happens it breaks your heart. You know, for the violence in the school," Woodall said.
Woodall believes building relationships can save lives.
"You just have people that can tell you information whether that's teachers or students. Just kind of keep your ear to the ground and listen," he said.
As the longest-serving school resource officer in Rockingham County and 2015 national SRO of the year, Woodall's door is always open.
"Whoever does this job it's very rewarding. You get to see kids who have gone on and graduated. They come back and see you or you'll see them in the community at the different jobs that they have," he said.
Woodall's service extends beyond the school's perimeter.
He's the coordinator for the county's Special Olympics, co-chair of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, part of countless school clubs and a leader at his church's youth group.
"It goes back to loving them kids, being a good mentor and role model to them," Woodall said.
This is Woodall's last school year as an SRO. After nearly two decades, he hasn't lost his focus or his bliss.
"Children are our future. We may have to depend on them one day to be doctors, nurses, dentists. I've always said this, I have the best job in the world," he said.