By Dr. Kodey S. Hughes, Superintendent, Juab School District

As we begin another school year, there is so much to be grateful for.

I am grateful for dedicated teachers and staff members who care deeply about our students. I am grateful for students who arrive each day ready to learn, grow, and discover. And I am especially grateful for the trust parents place in us when they send the most important people in their lives, their children, through the doors of our schools.

With that trust comes on of our greatest responsibilities: keeping our students safe.

School safety is something we hope families rarely have to think about, but behind the scenes, it is something we think about every day. Safe schools don't happen by accident. They are the result of preparation, communication, strong relationships, and people throughout our community working together.

Juab School District is fortunate to have tremendous partnerships with the Nephi City Police Department and the Juab County Sheriff's Office. Through the support of our community, local leaders, and Board of Education, law enforcement officers are present in our schools, parking lots, activities, and, most importantly, in the lives of our students.

Their role is certainly about protection, but it is also about relationships.

I have watched an officer put a hand on the shoulder of a student who was facing a difficult road. I have seen officers give high fives and fist bumps to students celebrating a great day. They attend activities, walk our hallways, talk with students, and become trusted adults our kids recognize and know.

Those relationships are an important part of creating safe schools.

There is another side of their work that most people never see. I have been part of countless conversations about securing buildings, improving emergency procedures, managing large crowds at school events, and preparing for situations we hope never occur. As superintendent, those are conversations I don't want to have alone and thankfully, I don't have to.

Our police chief, county sheriff, officers, deputies, school administrators, and district staff sit at the table together. We ask difficult questions, identify areas where we can improve, and continually work to make our schools safer for students, employees, families, and visitors.

That partnership gives me tremendous confidence.

So the next time you see an officer in our community, remember that whether that individual is serving as a school resource officer, walking through one of our schools, or patrolling somewhere in Juab County, they are also an important part of the team helping protect our children.

In a rural community, we look out for on another. Your kids are our kids, and keeping them safe is a responsibility we share.

To the men and women of our local law enforcement agencies who stand alongside our schools: thank you for protecting our students, building relationships with them, and helping make Juab School District a safe and welcoming place to learn.

We are grateful to have you on our team.

#JuabProud

Dr. Kodey S. Hughes | Superintendent | Juab School District