The Logan-Hocking School District is privileged enough to have many reliable school resource officers in the area. With at least one at each school, there are many individuals whose job is to protect the students of Logan during school hours. Jason Wallace, the school resource officer at Hocking Hills Elementary, is a terrific example of how devoted the district officers are to their job.
Born in 1973 and starting work in the early 90s, Jason Wallace is a proud Hocking Hills Elementary staff member. When asked what led him to become a school resource officer, he explains, “I started off in the early 90s as a reserve control... I was a lieutenant there, I was a sniper there, I was an SRT commander... Then, I was the chief of police in Nelsonville for 8 years. Then I came back here, was lieutenant deputy, and then was like: You know what? The older I am in my life and career it's nice to have a positive interaction with kids because when you're on the road... it's not usually good stuff. This way, they get to recognize me as someone they can come to if they need help. It's nice." Wallace enjoys being able to be someone that the kids can come to rather than only seeing him in times of trouble, and he enjoys being able to be a school resource officer.
Wallace also expresses that, after many years with his previous jobs, “it’s good to be able to talk to the kids, let them know we [other resource officers] are friends because we’re there to help them.” He enjoys being able to bond with the kids at the elementary school, explaining that it’s a nice change.
He also reveals his favorite part of his job is being able to interact with the kids and watch them grow. He expresses: “Their honesty is just awesome. I’ve had kids who come up to me, touch my mustache, and tell me that, 'Oh, you need to shave that.' I had one child tell me I had to get my teeth whitened.” Wallace continues to reveal how he feels about watching kids move on from elementary school: “It gets harder every year when the kids graduate. ... Just earlier, I saw two of my kids from my school that are now in high school.” Jason Wallace cares deeply about the kids he protects at Hocking Hills Elementary, even after they leave his school.
Overall, Jason Wallace enjoys providing safety for the kids of Logan as he watches them learn and grow.
By: Isabel Miller, Grade 10