Classroom Success for the School Resource Officer
“My short title is ‘Teaching police officers how to teach.’”
Written by retired teacher and police officer Suzanne D'Ambrose, “Classroom Success for the School Resource Officer” is a comprehensive training program for members of law enforcement agencies interested in working with young people.
Below the author discusses what the course is all about and offers some tips for success in the classroom.
Suzanne, tell me a little bit about your course for School Resource Officers.
Basically, it’s methods of instruction. My short title is ‘Teaching police officers how to teach.’
Why is it important to teach police officers how to teach?
Teaching is completely different than being a police officer. In police work, you are involved in one on one or one on two situations, correcting behavior. Teaching is a whole different ballgame. You are trying to get across information and you want your audience to be excited about it. As a police officer, you don’t need to get people excited about paying a parking meter.
How did you go about structuring the course?
Basically, I took my training as a teacher and my experience as a police officer and pulled together what I thought was important.
And where did you get your training?
I did a 40-hour FBI course at the Academy on instructor development and I majored in education at Seton Hall. I started out as a teacher during the school year and a part-time police officer in the summer and developed my career on my own time.
Which job did you prefer, teaching or police work?
There are things I love about both jobs. I loved it when my graduates work with me on the Bel Mar force or they call to say they took a job with NYPD. I just love that!
What is your primary goal in this course?
I just want police officers to feel comfortable in front of a classroom full of kids. I want them to be so comfortable that they are only thinking of the best way to convey the information.
What are some of the tips you offer your teachers?
Get a lot of sleep! And take a lot of vitamins! Teachers catch a lot of colds!
Do you think certain personality traits help people become good teachers?
Absolutely! Dedication is important. They should want to be there. In other words, they shouldn’t just be assigned to a teaching position. They should have a passion for their career that they want to pass on to cadets. It’s just like anything you do well – you should love it! I know that sounds like something you would hear on Oprah but it’s really true.