There’s a new face at the end of the lunch line here at Mounds View. At the end of October, a new school resource officer (SRO) joined Mounds View, replacing former SRO Abi Sachdev. This SRO, Andrea Giles, transferred here from Quora Education Center in Little Canada. 

Transferring from a smaller school like Quora to a larger school like Mounds View can be a stressful experience, but Giles sees it as an opportunity to get to know new people. 

With any transition, there are upsides and downsides. For Giles, “My favorite part about being at Mounds View, I would say [is] seeing all the students, trying to get to know students.”  Her least favorite? The traffic getting in and out of school — something many students and staff can relate to. 

Part of the reason she became an SRO was because she enjoyed working with kids. Before she decided to become a police officer, she worked at a children’s clinic, so she has experience working with younger people. 

Giles wants to change the stigma surrounding law enforcement. “I’ve had negative interactions with law enforcement officers myself. So I definitely can see how, for some students or some people, law enforcement interaction can be traumatizing,” said Giles. 

In fact, Giles ultimately decided to become an SRO because she believes in the importance of building relationships between law enforcement and students.“The big thing is building the relationship, building the trust and just being a support for everyone here,” she said. Giles wants to be there for the students, and she wants students to feel comfortable around her. She hopes that being comfortable talking to her can translate to students building connections with law enforcement outside the school. 

She wants students to know that she’s not just an officer — she’s also a resource. “I also have a degree in counseling. So if someone needs to just come and talk to me, […] I am a really good listener.” 

Giles also plans to keep extra essential items in her office. “Once I get my office together, I usually keep extra clothes in my office [and] snacks, candy, things like that. […] I try to keep a lot of different resources — tampons, pads, things like that — in my office, so if someone needs it, I want to make sure I am able to provide it for them,” she said.

Looking ahead, Giles plans to go back to school to pursue a mental health license, which would complement her drug and alcohol counseling license. “Something I’m thinking about, actually, is [pursuing] something I can use in the school in my current role,” she said. 

Giles is actively working to dispel negative stereotypes surrounding law enforcement. Through her commitment to building trust, providing resources and fostering open communication, Giles aims to create a positive and supportive atmosphere for students.