Broad Street Elementary’s ‘Officer Jim’ commended with state award
As elected officials lined up in Broad Street Elementary School’s auditorium Thursday, Nov. 21, to congratulate James “Officer Jim” Green for his recognition of a state award, the school resource officer opted to go in for hugs instead of handshakes.
Green’s interactions with not just the school’s students, but the community at-large is what led him to be nominated for the state Recognizing Inspiring School Employees Award, or RISE Award. It is his commitment to make the school feel like home which helped him be one of two people in Pennsylvania honored with the award this year.
“Officer Jim is many things to all of us, but to our scholars, he is a father figure, a positive role model, someone to talk to, to play games with, a person who listens and a person who cares,” said Meghan Lucas, a teacher at Broad Street Elementary who nominated Green. “He is always decorating for holidays, getting pictures printed every single day for our wall. He has lunches with deserving scholars; he draws masterpieces of art requested by the kids.
“We hope he knows how much we appreciate all the things he does.”
The RISE Award was created March 2019 to recognize and promote the commitment and excellence exhibited by full- or part-time classified school employees who provide exemplary service to students in prekindergarten through high school. School personnel could be nominated by their peers, officials, students or families for the award.
State Education Secretary Khalid N. Mumin visited Broad Street Elementary on Thursday to shadow Green and tour the school to meet its staff and students. Mumin said the school presented a welcoming atmosphere, which he could tell was created in part by Green and his efforts to decorate the school.
“When I walked through the doors today and I was able to meet Officer Jim, you know that this is a place of love, compassion, lots of fun,” Mumin said.
Also in attendance were Butler Area School District superintendent Brian White; Broad Street Elementary principal Vanessa Boyd; school board members Al Vavro, Gary Shingleton and Nina Teff; Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche; state Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th; and state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st.
Lucas and Boyd each acknowledged that Green said he doesn’t want outside recognition for the work he does for the school and its students, but after hearing from staff, students and Mumin, he said he felt “wonderful.”
“For all the love that you guys have shared … you have given me back all that love,” Green said to the students.
In addition to speeches by staff and officials of the school, the students were some of the loudest voices in congratulating Green for his award, and commenting on why he deserves it. One student, third-grader Logan Horter, got teary-eyed while sharing a story of Green helping him get through a tough day. Now, his mornings aren’t as hard as they used to be.
“He is the best security guard I’ve ever known,” Logan said.
