Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration joined officials from the U.S. Department of Education today in Butler County to celebrate school police Officer James Green’s exceptional contributions to the Butler Area School District, which earned him the national Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award.
Established by Congress in 2019 and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the RISE honor celebrates excellence among school support employees who offer essential services to the PreK-12 school community and play a vital role in providing for the welfare, safety, and success of students.
"Today, we celebrate a truly remarkable man and public servant – one who brings great heart and spirit to the school community he serves every day,” said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. “As a school police officer, he 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. Officer Green embodies the very best of what it means to serve and inspire, and on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I am proud that he has been recognized as one of the most outstanding school employees nationally.”
The RISE Award honors a school employee who provides exemplary service to students in pre-kindergarten through high school. To be eligible for the award, an individual must be a full- or part-time non-teaching school employee, including paraprofessionals, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades.
For the fifth annual competition, the U.S. Department of Education received 31 nominations from 17 states.
"It is impossible to overstate the enormous impact our school employees can have on a student's life. This year's RISE awardee, James Green, is a testament to the ways these professionals shape their schools and communities for the better. Officer Jim is more than a school police officer at Broad Street Elementary School. He is a warm confidante, father figure, and mentor to its students and a leader in creating safety response policies that could save lives," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "I'm thrilled to recognize Officer Jim as the 2025 RISE honoree. 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."
At Broad Street Elementary School, Green’s job is to keep students and staff safe – but he goes above and beyond the job description in many ways. Officer Green makes a point to learn every student’s name and make sure they feel seen and heard. He maintains a “living yearbook” in the hallways featuring photos from school events, and each year he decorates the main hallways for the holidays with elaborate displays that have been featured in the local newspaper.
Officer Green prioritizes each student’s well-being and finds ways to meet their needs. He’s given students haircuts, helped a blind student learn to play catch, and has fixed bikes that students need to travel to and from school. Through the school’s reward system for good behavior, students can choose to have lunch or play catch with Officer Green.
Co-workers describe him as a father figure and role model who inspires students to take pride in their school. Officer Green’s positive energy reaches into the community through information sessions on school safety for parents.
“In Pennsylvania, we believe that every student deserves a safe environment to learn, grow, and reach for success. These supportive environments are made real by dedicated individuals like Officer James Green – a school police officer by title, but a mentor, protector, and role model to the students and staff at Broad Street Elementary School. Officer Green exemplifies the vital role that school support employees across the Commonwealth play in shaping positive educational experiences, and I am incredibly proud to celebrate Officer Green today with this well-deserved national award,” said Pennsylvania’s Interim Acting Secretary of Education Angela Fitterer.