Arizona Charter Academy has assigned a full-time School Resource Officer, Nick Wylie from the Surprise Police Department, to support safety and student engagement. Wylie said, “I enjoy coming here and interacting with our kids, having that relationship and that trust.” He also takes part in school activities and classroom visits to build connections with students, according to FOX10 Phoenix.
The partnership between the Surprise Police Department and Arizona Charter Academy has been recognized by ACA’s Director of Operations, Gloria Ramos. On the school’s website, Ramos said, “we saw the great benefit of having a SRO on campus to engage with students in a positive experience.” She added, “He knows so many students by name now and they seek him out to high five them,” as stated by Arizona Charter Academy.
ACA Principal Jordan Beckman said the presence of a School Resource Officer marks a change in how law enforcement is viewed on campus. Beckman stated, "our students will see police officers as allies and someone who wants to prevent issues." Officer Wylie also shared his perspective on the partnership, saying, "I find the informal counselor/mentor aspect to be the most rewarding and impactful part of the job," as mentioned by Arizona Charter Academy. In addition to his role in law enforcement, Officer Wylie supports students as both an educator and mentor.
