Creating a safe environment for students and staff, high school security is a job that requires experience and hard work. Woodgrove, like many schools within Loudoun County, emphasizes the importance of safety and security in the daily function of school. The members of our security team work together to ensure students and staff’s protection and well-being.
The job of school safety is executed through a team of diligent workers with many different titles. Officer Christopher Horbatak, Woodgrove’s only school resource officer, is experienced in safety control both inside and outside of the school environment. Before becoming a SRO, Horbatas was on active patrol as a police officer. “I thought [being an SRO] would be a good position. It puts me in a different role than a normal cop, and I get to know the kids in the community a little better. It’s just a different type of law enforcement… a different type of policing,” he expressed. Working closely with administrators, students, and local safety departments, Officer Horbatak keeps a close eye on the Woodgrove community. “We live in a day and age where [security issues] can happen at school and that’s the main reason why we put police officers in school— to make sure you guys can come here and safely go home at the end of the day,” Horbatak explained. In a world full of many threats, Officers and security teams are the most important piece of our school’s security puzzle.
Woodgrove’s lead School Security Officer (SSO), Mr. Ward Sigler has worked to protect the Woodgrove family since the school’s opening in 2010. From patrolling the halls to watching over new drivers and sipping his coffee, Mr. Sigler carefully supervises the well-being of Woodgrove. “You see us standing out in the mornings when you guys get here. A big part of it is being visible, and promoting, ‘if you see something, say something,’ because [students] are the most important piece —you all have the information that we need,” he stated.
The newest member of the security team, Mr. Dominic Dunne, is bringing his previous knowledge of security from working both in the government, and in local school systems to Woodgrove. Although he had previously experience working in a safety centered job, he still has adopted new skills and ideas while working at Woodgrove. “I’ve learned to be flexible with different environments and how it’s always important to make relationships with kids,” he emphasized. Additional voices from students allows for the security team to know as much as possible. Dunne explained, “[at a bigger school] there’s more to worry about— there’s different problems compared to middle school. I think it’s fun talking to high school kids… you can have real conversations with them.”
The main office staff also plays a vital role in the security of the school. Ms. Huma Sheikh is the face of the front desk. As well as answering phone calls and checking mail, she also is in charge of letting people enter the school and giving out visitor passes. The process of getting people checked into the office and into the building is monitored: Sheikh checks their identification card through a video intercom system to make sure it matches a student or staff member’s contact information. Sheikh shared, “Nobody can leave the main office or enter into the school building without a visitor pass, unless they go through us and are approved by us.” Sheikh goes through the operation of approving who enters and exits the building thoroughly to maintain a safe atmosphere.
Between the members of the main office and Woodgrove security team, collaboration is crucial and strives to keep the school a safe and protected environment in order to provide both students and staff a worry free education. Horbatak emphasized that the first priority of the security is making sure all students and staff get to leave the same way they arrived, and protecting them from harm. Woodgrove security has shown its devotion to maintaining a protected atmosphere for faculty and students.