JULIO SANCHEZ – SRO, DON TYSON SCHOOL OF INNOVATION
Julio Sanchez is thankful for second chances. So is the Springdale Police Department. And, so is the Don Tyson School of Innovation where Sanchez serves as a student resource officer. If it were not for a second chance and a meeting with a high school friend, Sanchez would not be a member of the Springdale police force.
“I applied with the police department in 2008,” Sanchez recalls. “I didn’t get the job. The man who interviewed me told me I still had some growing up to do. I was married, had two kids and had served in the military in Iraq so that didn’t sit well with me. I had resentment. Looking back, though, he was probably right.”
A few years later Sanchez encountered Patrick Kabanuck, a friend from his time at Springdale High School. Kabanuck had just applied to become a paramedic and suggested Sanchez try again for a spot on the police force.
“Just talking to Patrick and seeing what he was doing inspired me to apply again with the police department,” says Sanchez. “I applied and had a different interviewer. I waited week after week for them to call me. After three months, just when I thought they wouldn’t call, Mike Hignite called and asked if I was still interested.
“I said yes, gave two weeks notice at my job, went to the academy, graduated in June and by late 2015 I was on patrol. After serving on the crime suppression unit and the S.W.A.T. team, I listened to Sergeant (Eric) Gregory give a speech about being an SRO. I talked to several SROs and it worked out for me to become one.”
A graduate of Springdale High, Sanchez is in his second year as SRO at the DTSOI. He is joined at the school by both of his sons. Bryan, his 18-year-old, is a senior and has been at the school since eighth grade. Fifteen-year-old Jaeden loves to cook and is enrolled in culinary arts. Both of his sons attend the DTSOI because “they like what the school offers. The instruction is different from traditional schools.
“My wife and I try to give our sons what they enjoy. Bryan is in the industrial maintenance program. He likes welding. He is quiet and reserved. Jaeden is just the opposite.”
Sanchez is a young father. He and his wife, Melody, were married while both were students at SHS. Both sets of parents were instrumental in helping them complete high school.
“We had Bryan when I was 16,” Sanchez says. “Both of our families were there for us. They made sure we had everything we needed to graduate on time. Even though we were already parents, we could still enjoy friends and the great atmosphere of Springdale High School.
“I had enlisted in the army while still in high school and deployed after graduation. First we went to Fort Lewis in Washington (state). Melody was there and that’s where Jaeden was born. If it weren’t for Melody, I don’t know what I would be doing. She has always been there for me.”
After training at Fort Lewis, Sanchez was sent to Iraq, where he served for 15 months. His time there had a major impact on his life.
“It was life changing for me,” Sanchez says. “It is a different world. We get so used to what we have here. The poorest families in the United States have more than most people in Iraq. Their middle class lives in high poverty and constantly faces death.
“The bond that is forged among brothers in the military is hard to describe. You face death every day together. It’s a different experience.”
What was the adjustment like when he returned home?
“When I first got back, my wife noticed that when we drove on the interstate, if there was a car on the side of the road, I would switch to the lane farthest away from it,” Sanchez responds. “It was because of encountering roadside bombs in Iraq. I wanted to stay away from them. I’ve gotten over that since then.”
Sanchez decided not to reenlist and his wife had settled in as a receptionist at a family dental center. She would eventually become front office manager before accepting a position at Tyson Foods. Meanwhile, Sanchez struggled a bit.
“I hopped from job to job,” he says. “I worked construction then took a job at a used car lot. I wasn’t very good because I had not developed communication skills. Then I worked a year at Stanley Steamer. It was okay but not fulfilling.”
Finally, he found a job he liked and worked at Cram-A-Lot for four years before visiting with Kabanuck. His employers were happy for him when he was accepted into the police department. In his sixth year with the Springdale police, he is enjoying his time at DTSOI.
“I have a lot of interaction with the staff at DTSOI,” Sanchez says. “I also like having one-on-one conversations with students who may need advice. It gives me the opportunity to share my life experiences. For the most part the younger students are easier to talk to. With the older students I don’t push myself on them but want them to know I am always approachable.”
If students were aware of Sanchez’ hobby, they might find him even more approachable.
“As someone growing up in the l980’s and 90’s, I grew up with video games,” Sanchez says. “I still play. A lot of my friends still play. We play video games online. I also like spending time at home and going camping.”
With eSports becoming sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association and the DTSOI having an excellent program, perhaps Sanchez will be enlisted to help the teams in some capacity. His most valuable service, however, is making sure the environment at DTSOI is always safe. Because Sanchez and all of the district SROs help ensure a safe environment, Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Join us November 11th for Veterans Day Celebration at Central Junior High!
A rich and fun day of team building, learning, and collaborating with Assistant Principals from around the district! Superintendent Dr. Jared Cleveland and Curriculum and Instruction team led by Dr. Marcia Smith, Mrs. Shannon Tisher and Melissa Fink led the meeting.
Thank you Beaver Water District!
Thank you McLarty Daniel!
Don Tyson School of Innovation and Springdale High School students volunteered to work the polls at the Archer Learning Center on election day. "We learned a lot about everything related to voting," said DTSOI senior Vivian Schaffer, who was working the polls for the third time since she has been at the DTSOI. The students were scheduled to work from 7 am to 8 pm. Students serving in the community while learning about civics is another reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Young Elementary students have finished reading "Bad Kitty For President" and "Duck For President." They are doing a mock election to learn about the political process as well as to decide if they want Bad Kitty or Duck for President. Learning civics at an early age is another reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Ozark Guidance Virtual Parent Night, Technology & Limit Setting, are taking place Tuesday November 10th at 6pm via zoom. There will be both a Spanish and an English session. Please see our flyers below for more information!
Re-Live the special day with exclusive photos and videos from the Don Tyson School of Innovation
Industrial Maintenance Dedication- 10-26-20
https://www.smore.com/c0t56-don-tyson-school-of-innovation
Congrats to the Shelter Insurance Players of last Week! Tommy Hudson from Har-Ber High School and Luis Herrera from Springdale High School. Way to go!
Congrats to the Shelter Insurance Players of last Week! Tommy Hudson from Har-Ber High School and Luis Herrera from Springdale High School. Way to go!
Sally Ratcliff of Monitor Elementary is the winner of $500 in the Arvest "Thank a Teacher" campaign. #THEChoice
Evette Bran, a Sonora Elementary teacher, has won $500 in the Arvest "Thank a Teacher" campaign. #THEChoice
School Board members including President Michelle Cook and Central Administration Staff toured Hellstern Middle School this morning! Students and teachers shared their projects and thanked the board members for being so supportive!
JOHN ROBERTSON – SRO, Tyson Middle School, Walker Elementary
John Robertson’s first experience working with youth came in Mississippi shortly after he became a police officer. He was involved in the D.A.R.E. program and discovered how much he enjoyed working with students.
“I was newly married and my wife, Vickey, was from Mississippi so we moved there,” Robertson recalls. “As soon as I turned 21 I started my career with the police. I became familiar with students working with them in the D.A.R.E. program at Carthage High School.”
D.A.R.E. is a program that is officer led. It is a series of classroom lessons that teaches students how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence free lives.
“I didn’t realize kids had so much passion until I became involved in D.A.R.E.,” Robertson says. “I learned as much from them as they did from me. Knowing how we can help kids changed my view of law enforcement.
“Carthage is a small town and didn’t have an SRO program but I enjoyed working with students. I was on the police force there for 13 years before we moved to Springdale. My wife works for Tyson and she had a chance to work in the corporate office. She had done so much for me in my career, it was time for me to give back. She’s been with Tyson for 24 years and is still there.”
Robertson was without a position when he moved to Springdale but had applied to the police force and was quickly hired. He was on patrol for a couple years but was hoping to work in the schools. He jumped when an SRO opportunity became available and currently serves Tyson Middle School and Walker Elementary.
“The SRO program allows students to see us as more than officers,” Robertson explains. “We are honest with them. That allows them to see a different side of a police officer. They know they can trust us.
“Springdale’s SRO program is excellent and growing. We are about to add three officers through a grant and will have 21 officers in the schools. The more the better. As students go through the school system, they will meet more officers. Each of us is a little different but we are all here for the same thing, to help and benefit students through positive interaction.”
Robertson’s first assignment was Tyson Middle School. He was there four years before moving to Southwest Junior High. He moved back to Tyson Middle School and added Walker Elementary last year.
“When I went from Tyson to Southwest I enjoyed moving up with an entire class of students,” Robertson says. “They were good kids We built good connections. I still see many of them when I am at the high schools. I’ve even had some of their parents invite me to their birthday parties. There is no way to describe how much it means to know you have had an impact on students’ lives.”
Is there a major difference between junior high, middle school and elementary students?
“In junior high they are a little more mature but at the end of the day they are pretty much the same,” Robertson responds. “They all want to know where they belong in the world. In elementary school there are more of them that tell you they want to be a police officer when they grow up. They also want to hug you and their eyes light up a little more. Middle school students like to talk and interact with you.”
Robertson likes to interact about sports, particularly football and golf. He has become a Razorback fan but admits his first loyalty is to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“I grew up in Mobile and when you grow up in Alabama you choose either Alabama or Auburn,” Robertson says. “I try to keep it low key here. They give me a hard time. I support the Razorbacks in every game unless they are playing Alabama.”
Born in Germany, it was in Alabama that Robertson was first exposed to the influence of a police officer.
“My dad was in the military but was from Alabama,” Robertson explains. “He met my mom in Germany. Her entire family is still there. I was very young when we moved to Alabama. In our neighborhood there was a police officer. I saw his car in his driveway and I would go over and talk to him. We lived close together for a couple of years.
“I was impressed that he would take time to talk to me. He treated me so nice it made me want to be like him and be nice to kids.”
That’s exactly what Robertson is doing today. He has two kids of his own, a son and daughter who are both Har-Ber High School graduates and are currently in college. Both of them started at Walker Elementary so he was familiar with the school long before he began patrolling its halls.
“All of the schools are great and so are the resource officers,” Robertson says. “Our relationship with the school district is one of the best I am aware of. All of the SROs really work well together.”
The district is blessed to have so many dedicated police officers keeping students safe and developing positive relationships with students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The SRO program, largest in the state, is another reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Below you will find the dates for the flu clinics! Let's fight the flu together!
Julie Lien, a VIA Don Tyson School of Innovation teacher who works with students from Westwood, Smith, Jones, and Monitor Elementary Schools, has won $500 in the Arvest "We Love Teachers" campaign. #THEChoice.
Kat Scantlin of Childers Knapp Elementary has won $500 for classroom supplies in the fifth annual Arvest Bank "We Love Teachers" campaign. How will she use it? "We have a wish list a mile long," Scantlin says. "Our class is excited!" #THEChoice
Have you watched "Así Es Springdale"? Follow our show on Springdale Schools YouTube channel or look for it on our Spanish language Facebook: Escuelas de Springdale!
Han visto nuestro programa "Así Es Springdale"?Sigan nuestro canal Springdale Schools en YouTube, también lo pueden encontrar en la pagina de Escuelas de Springdale en Facebook.
Springdale High School AP Spanish and Spanish IV students presented their 16th annual "Celebra la Vida" Dia de los Muerlos event in the school's rotunda with displays featuring prominent Spanish speaking celebrities and/or historical figures. A community mural gave visitors an opportunity to write something they would like to do while they are still living.
