National SRO Appreciation Day

Feb. 15

Annual National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day

The National Association of School Resource Officers encourages schools and communities to recognize the valuable work of their school resource officers (SROs) during National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day on February 15 of every year.

We established National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day in 2022, after receiving frequent inquiries from schools around the country regarding the most appropriate day to recognize their SROs. NASRO encourages schools and communities to take time on Feb. 15 of every year to let their SROs know how much they appreciate the work these officers do to bridge gaps between law enforcement and youth and to keep schools safe.

An official proclamation appears below.

The SRO assignment is unique within the law enforcement profession. These sworn law enforcement officers fill a three-part role, serving as informal mentors or counselors, law educators, and law enforcement officers to support the students and communities they serve. They are valuable and essential members of the education community who deserve unwavering respect and support from the public in the pursuit of keeping schools and students safe.

We chose Feb. 15 for National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day because it falls during the traditional academic year and is the birthdate of Archie Hodge, the only NASRO founding member who remains active on the organization’s board of directors. Hodge, of Jackson, Mississippi, retired from law enforcement in 2006 after serving as an SRO for 22 years.

National School Resource Officers Day Proclamation

WHEREAS, The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) is dedicated to making schools and children safer by providing the highest-quality training to school-based law enforcement officers;

WHEREAS, school resource officers (SROs) bridge gaps between youth and law enforcement and embrace a triad concept of school policing, serving in informal counseling, education, and law enforcement roles to support students and communities they serve;

WHEREAS, by training law enforcement officers to counsel, educate, and protect school communities, the men and women of NASRO continuously lead by example and promote a positive image of law enforcement to school children and school communities;

WHEREAS, SRO programs across the globe are founded as collaborative efforts by police agencies, law enforcement officers, educators, students, parents, and communities to create safe learning environments, provide valuable resources to school staff members, foster positive relationships with students and develop strategies to resolve problems that affect youth with the goal of protecting all children, so they can reach their fullest potential;

WHEREAS, school resource officers are valuable and essential members of the education community and deserve unwavering respect and support from the public in the pursuit of keeping schools and students safe;

NOW, THEREFORE, the National Association of School Resource Officers hereby proclaims February 15 as School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, a special day to show appreciation for school-based law enforcement officers and encourage all citizens to show their gratitude with displays of support and personal messages.

Chatham Artists-in-Schools Initiative