‘Officer Jim’ honored for national RISE recognition
BUTLER TWP — Officer James Green is known for being selfless at Broad Street Elementary School, where he’s dedicated to helping the students.
This was highlighted when superintendent Brian White told the story of Green finding out he was being nationally recognized.
“What was really impressive was what came out of his mouth next: ‘This is bigger than me. This is about our whole school, our district and our officers,’” White said during a ceremony at Butler Intermediate High School Friday, Jan. 17, honoring his selection for the RISE (Recognizing Inspiring School Employees) Award.
Green, known as “Officer Jim” around the Butler Area School District, received several rounds of applause from students during the event.
The RISE Award honors outstanding contributions of certified school employees who go above and beyond in service to students. Green received the honor for Pennsylvania employees earlier this school year. White found out just before winter break that the U.S. Department of Education selected Green for the national award.
“It is impossible to overstate the enormous impact our school employees can have on a student’s life. This year’s RISE awardee, James Green, is a testament to the ways these professionals shape their schools and communities for the better,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. “Officer Jim is more than a school police officer at Broad Street Elementary School. He is a warm confidant, father figure and mentor to its students and a leader in creating safety response policies that could save lives.”
Students from Broad Street Elementary and other Butler district schools packed into the intermediate high school auditorium to see Green recognized. The event was attended by White and the entire school board, along with county Commissioners Leslie Osche and Kim Geyer; state Sen. Marci Mustello, R-11th; state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st; county Sheriff Mike Slupe; a representative of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th; several state troopers; and representatives from both the federal and state departments of education.
At the ceremony, Green thanked his family, particularly his wife and parents, as well as the school district, the students, principal Vanessa Boyd and other school employees.
In his speech, he once again focused on the students.
“I want you to look at this today not as an award for me, but as an example that a simple school police officer, in a small school, in a small town, in a small county from one out of 50 states can receive an award like this from our country, just imagine what you can do. You’re all capable of anything and everything, and I believe you will do great things and change the world,” Green said.
Officer Jim has gone above and beyond to help students he works with. Examples given included giving haircuts to students who needed them, helping a blind student learn to play catch and fixing bikes that students need to travel to and from school.
Before working with the Butler Area School District, Green’s background includes serving in the Marines, and working as a state trooper and corrections officer.
As Boyd said during the introductory speeches, one of Green’s most notable traits is his frequent outfit choice of Hawaiian shirts. Green said after the ceremony he does this for the sake of the students. Dealing with children who live in areas where they may not have good interactions with police — not that the police are doing anything bad, but they could be arresting their parents, or raiding houses — Green wants to make a point of being welcoming to the students.
“After all these years in uniform, and if they affiliate it with something bad that happened to them, I wear jeans, I wear whatever, and I do Hawaiian shirts on Friday. And it’s a way for the kids to be down with me, so they’re not affiliating that. That allows for them to talk to me freely. If they’re having a great day they tell me about it, if they’re having a bad day, if something bad is happening to them, I want them to be able to come and talk to me about it so I can take care of the problem,” Green said. “But it’s about removing that one barrier so you can build a relationship with them.”
Green said he loves being able to work with the students. Making sure they can reach their potential is where his focus continues to be.
“I appreciate that it’s an award, but I don’t think of it as an award for me,” Green said. “I was so proud for the school, and the kids and the district. I was not gonna put the application in myself. But obviously it’s an honor and it’s great to recognize stuff like that, but I think it’s more important for the kids to see that, and to see what they can do. I think that’s the most important thing for me.”
