Submitted by Office of Gov. Mike Braun
Governor Mike Braun announced on Tuesday that Julie Q. Smith will serve as the first Director of the Office of School Safety.
Smith is a Sergeant in the Columbus Police Department who oversees the School Resource Officer Division in that city, comprising 18 schools. She is a former school resource officer for Bartholomew County Schools.
Smith has distinguished herself as a national leader on school safety. She is a National Instructor for the National Association of School Resource Officers as well as Regional Director for the Midwest states, President of the Indiana School Resource Officers Association, and has been recognized for her proactive, evidence-based leadership on strengthening schools and promoting school safety legislation.
“I’ve dedicated my career to keeping students safe, and it’s an honor to put my experience to work strengthening Indiana schools and communities as the Director of the Office of School Safety,” Smith said.
As Director of the Indiana Office of School Safety, Smith brings a wealth of experience and an unwavering commitment to protecting Hoosier students.
“Providing a safe and secure environment for Hoosier students to learn and grow is a top priority for me both as Governor and as a father and grandfather,” Gov. Braun said. “Our Office of School Safety puts that priority into action, and Sergeant Julie Q. Smith is uniquely qualified and dedicated to this mission to strengthen our schools and help students thrive.”
Gov. Braun created the Office of School Safety as part of his Freedom & Opportunity Public Safety agenda. His first legislative session saw major education successes signed into law, putting students first and parents in the driver’s seat of their kids’ education.
Those accomplishments included a nationally-recognized expansion of school choice freedom, a first-in-the-nation tuition freeze across all Indiana state colleges and universities, increased base salary for teachers, over $640 million in additional funds for schools in the Indiana budget, and a new diploma path focused on setting students up for success after graduation.