Noel Marrero towers over the students at Wetmore Elementary School as he makes his rounds through the campus. The Chicago native is 6 foot 6 inches tall, and helped Michael Jordan prepare for his NBA comeback. Basketball was his life, but safety is his focus now.
Marrero is one of North East ISD’s campus safety specialists (CSS). Our safety specialist position fulfills the House Bill 3 requirement that an armed security officer is present at each campus. They are stationed at our elementary schools and are solely focused on security. They monitor school grounds, ensure doors are locked, security cameras are working, and fencing and parking lots are secure. They also lead safety drills and training.
Marrero is in the Army Reserves. He’s spent time overseas and worked security at schools and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Safety and security are important to him. They have been at the forefront of his daily mission for decades. Before signing on to protect the students at Wetmore, he worked as a safety auditor for the Texas Education Agency. So, he’s seen the issues schools can run into with safety and ensure those aren’t an issue for his campus.
But for Marrero, safety isn’t just about closed doors and security cameras. He relies on his relationships to help him keep staff and students safe. And that often starts with offering students the highest of high fives or a special handshake.
“I have probably like 20 different handshakes with 20 different students. That is, to me, one of the most fulfilling things and then knowing that when they see me, they’re safe. The students feel safe telling me if they see something. They are a source of information.”
Our highly trained CSS team undergoes continuous training throughout the year to ensure they are ready for any security threat. They are a vital part of our multi-level security and safety processes, helping to keep our students and staff safe.
“I’m a big advocate of safety in the school. And for me, being a father, these are my kids. I take care of them, just as I would like someone else to take care of my kids when they go off to her school.”
To learn more about NEISD safety plans, explore our critical updates.
