Before children arrive at Oak Grove Elementary School, Andrew Dettmers arrives to make sure the campus is ready for them.
He checks the perimeter of the school.
He sets out cones and safety lights.
He also makes sure he’s visible and ready to greet students as they arrive.
“Every time I see a little boy, I see my son. Every time I see the little girl, I see my daughter. That’s how I treat these kids.”
Dettmers 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.
Dettmers has spent his adult life focused on security. He served eight years in the United States Marine Corps and was a security guard at U.S. Embassies, earning himself a position on the Marine Security Guard Augmentation Unit, a reaction team to U.S. Embassies in crisis. When there was a threat, Dettmers got the call.
“I think that this job really encompasses every aspect of my professional career so far.”
He brings a wealth of military protection knowledge to our campuses. Dettmers has helped implement Districtwide security standards for our campus safety specialists. He’s passionate about security and understands what’s on the line.
“I want to send my kids to school one day, knowing that there’s someone who cares as much as I do, who has this shirt on. And when I see that person at my school that my kid will go to, I know, ‘Okay, my kid’s okay.’”
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.
“Every time I go home, I know I did something and that brings me great joy and satisfaction. I would struggle to find greater fulfillment and purpose in another job than I would here.”
To learn more about NEISD safety plans, explore our critical updates.
