Steven Pawlus is a Marine who served our country in Afghanistan.
He’s protected diplomats and U.S. Embassies overseas.
Now, he’s protecting some of our most important assets—our staff and students.
“I feel like I am doing something worthwhile helping out with the children,” said Pawlus. “I have two sons, and I love them greatly. I think that’s partly why I am here; I would want what I am doing for my children for sure.”
Pawlus is one of North East ISD’s Campus Safety Specialists (CSS). He is stationed at Dellview Elementary School. 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.
Pawlus also spends time connecting with students.
They tell him about their baseball games or big things going on in their lives.
It gives him the chance to support them, but also remind them to make sure doors are closing behind them and not to talk to strangers.
“If they need anything, I am there for them. I like to joke with them and tell them that I’m all their little bodyguards,” said Pawlus. “So, if they need anything, I’m there for them. They always have someone in their corner.”
Those connections can be critical to the mission of keeping our schools safe and secure. But it takes more than conversations. 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.
To learn more about NEISD safety plans, explore our critical updates.
