The U.S. Department of Education has named a Pittsburgh-area school police officer as the winner of this year’s Recognizing Inspiring School Employees award.
Butler Area School District officials say Officer James Green makes their schools safe for kids to grow and thrive. But the Broad Street Elementary resource officer said he joined the district’s police department in 2016 simply to form safe and trusting relationships with students.
“A lot of the kids around here don’t have really good relationships with the police,” Green said in a statement. “I want them to feel like they can come to me with anything they want to talk about. If they’re happy, I want to hear about it. If they’re having a bad day, I want to hear about it. If something’s happening that shouldn’t be happening, I need to know about it.”
The Department of Education’s award goes to one individual each year. Each state nominates educators from outside the traditional classroom setting. Past honorees include an Illinois custodian, a Wyoming paraprofessional and a family service specialist in Nevada.
Green, a former U.S. Marine and Pennsylvania State Trooper, accepted the award during a ceremony Friday in a Hawaiian shirt and sneakers.
“Thank you for understanding that even something as simple as the way I dress can often break down walls with the scholars and make me more approachable to them,” Green said.
School leaders said Green is known to students for his fist bumps and hand-drawn cartoons. Students awarded for good behavior can earn a chance to have lunch with Green, play basketball with him, or request one of his custom drawings.
“All of these interactions are so important in forming a safe and trusting relationship with the scholars and getting to know them personally,” Green said.
Several Butler-area state lawmakers were present Friday, as well as federal education officials and representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
While Governor Josh Shapiro was not present, he said in a statement that Green “goes above and beyond to serve as a father figure, a mentor, and a protector.”
“His unwavering commitment to the well-being of Broad Street Elementary School students, his selfless service to his community, and his daily example of integrity and care make him a true hero to Pennsylvania students,” Shapiro said.
Beyond keeping students safe, district leaders said Green has worked to make the school a warm and inclusive place. More than a quarter of Broad Street Elementary’s 226 students receive special education services, and 90% are considered economically disadvantaged.
“I’m thrilled to recognize Officer Jim as the 2025 RISE honoree,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. “Officer Jim: we salute you for going above and beyond in putting our schools and students first and ensuring a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for learning for all.”
