The small habit that transforms school safety | Beth Sanborn | TEDxCherryCreekHS
When Beth Sanborn became a School Resource Officer, she thought her years of policing and protecting would speak for themselves. But on her first day in the high school hallway, two students holding Starbucks cups raised their hands and said, “Hands up, don’t shoot!”, a moment that shook her to her core. In that instant, Beth realized the badge on her chest didn’t automatically mean trust. It meant she had work to do.
In this talk, Beth shares how one School Resource Officer’s interaction with two teenage girls transformed the way she approached policing in schools. Through storytelling and research-backed strategies, she reveals how small, intentional actions—like learning students’ names, engaging them in real conversations, and showing up as a human first—can dismantle barriers and build powerful, lasting relationships.
Beth challenges educators, police, and anyone working with youth to rethink how they connect with students. Her call to action is simple yet profound: learn three students’ names tomorrow. Because when kids feel seen, heard, and valued, schools become safer, more connected communities.
This is a talk about School Resource Officers build trust, show humanity, and how policing, done with passion, can change lives. Dr. Beth J. Sanborn, retired School Resource Officer & Juvenile Detective, is the Montgomery County (PA) School Safety Coordinator. She oversees 400+ schools, serves on PASRO’s board, teaches for NASRO, authors books on school safety, and speaks nationwide on youth trends. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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