by Elizabeth Reed, online & photography editor
The Roar spoke to new assistant principal Kedra Johnson — formerly the school resource officer fondly known as “Officer Ke-Ke” — on the ways in which her perspective has changed (or not changed) with her job.
What are some differences between your job now and the job you had as a resource officer?
For one, I’m way more involved in things that happen on the campus, as opposed to only dealing with criminal aspects or things of that nature. Now I’m in more of an academic-type role.
What do you love about your job?
I love the kids. The students here are great. We have been off to a great start and that’s what makes me want to get up and come to work every day. That’s why, even as an officer, I was here at school because I love the students.
Why did you decide to switch jobs?
I always knew that I would not be a super long-term law enforcement person. I felt that twenty years of service with the police department was a long enough time. I had aspirations to go on education full-time. Once I did my twenty years, it was my opportunity to my true dream job — my second dream job.
What was your first dream job?
Initially, I thought I wanted to go into the medical field — until I saw guts and blood. Even though I saw that stuff as an officer, it was from a very different perspective.
What are some things you have learned from being an assistant principal?
I’ve learned it’s a very busy job. We deal with a lot of different issues and no two days are the same. Ever. I’ve learned you have to be very flexible. You have to be very accommodating; a lot of the same aspects as an officer but it’s different.
What do you miss about being the school officer, or an officer in general?
Really, I miss the people I work with more than anything. I feel like I’m a lot of in the same role in that I help people because that was my true, ultimate desire. Even being an officer is just being able to be a help to my community. I feel like I’m still doing that, but a different type of helping.
Do you feel like students, or people in general, treat you differently now that you’re an assistant principal instead of the officer around here?
Some do and some don’t. I’ll always be Officer Johnson—because I still get called Officer Johnson. They’re like, ‘oops wait a minute, but you’re not an officer anymore’ and I’m like ‘that’s OK; I’ll always be Officer Johnson.’ You can still call me Officer Johnson. For the new kids that are coming in, that maybe don’t know me as Officer Johnson, I’m seeing more of them look at me like I’m an assistant principal versus an officer.
Do you ever find yourself going back to routine actions of being an officer?
Absolutely. Yes, yes. We’ve already had a couple of incidents on campus and my natural reaction is to just get in there and take care of it, make it stop.
How have your work peers changed?
When I say I miss the people I was working with, I’m talking about other officers. When I wasn’t here at school, I was on patrol, out on the streets. As far as the work setting here, nothing’s changed. I still work with the same core group of people, with the exception of the few new staff we have on campus.
Do you have any advice for the students this year?
Be good, because I’m going to get you if you don’t. Take care of business. To me, high school should be the most fun time in your life. You have no responsibility as far as not having to work to provide, or buy your clothes, or buy your food. Be a kid for as long as you can. Kids are in such a hurry to get adulthood and don’t because when you get there you’re going to want to go backwards. So be a kid, and take your education seriously.
