School Resource Officer Justin Hernandez presented the “Work to be the BEST Version of You” program to the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators last week.
Union County Sheriff’s Deputy Hernandez completed his second successful year of the drug education curriculum. It was a collaborative effort created by the Sheriff’s Office and the La Grande School District for fifth grade students. The curriculum is geared toward encouraging a decision-making process of saying no to drugs, including giving students resistance strategies that will help them fight peer pressure.
Central Elementary School Counselor Teresa Dowdy and Assistant Superintendent Principal Scott Carpenter worked tirelessly with Hernandez to create this program, and also presented at the COSA conference to discuss the need for the program state-wide, as well as the importance of the delivery and teaching styles to make it successful.
The program is available for the grade school students at the schools who have a contract with our School Resource Officers. Along with UCSO SRO Tony Humphries, the pair have reached approximately 600 students so far.
“The Sheriff’s Office and La Grande School District wanted to produce a product that would educate kids about life,” Hernandez said. “The (DARE program) removed critical drug categories in their program.”
Hernandez believed the important parts of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, which is traditionally taught by law enforcement, changed its scope. He wanted this “BEST Version of You” to better prepare students before stepping into Middle School.
The “BEST” is an acronym, Hernandez explained. “BE aware of the situation; EVALUATE your options; STAND up and speak up for yourself, and others; TALK to your team.”
Students also set up a ‘team’ in the program that is designed to create a network of support.
“This is a great program for the students,” said Sheriff Cody Bowen. “We want to support the schools, and the students, with as much education and resources as possible.”
The program lasts for seven weeks, and meets every week.
“We want them to be prepared for this kind of peer pressure,” Sheriff Bowen said. “This also helps build a solid foundation between our School Resource Officers and the students so the children will feel comfortable coming to us if there is a problem.
