Tag: “Overlea High School”

Overlea High Resource Officer Named SRO of the Year


Officer Danielle Moore, a member of the Baltimore County Police Department since 2012, has been named 2020 Floyd Ledbetter National SRO (School Resource Officer) of the Year by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO).

Officer Moore has served as a school resource officer at Overlea High School since 2018.

“Officer Moore has quickly made an impression on Overlea High School’s scholars, families, and staff,” said Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “She serves the school community in a way that affirms each student’s potential and promotes a healthy school climate. We are so thankful for her service and so proud of her for earning this national honor.”

According to Overlea High Principal Monica Sample, Officer Moore is the school’s “biggest cheerleader” and someone who “demonstrates commitment, loyalty, empathy, discipline, and diplomacy” and interacts with students “in a positive and restorative manner.”

“Many female scholars,” Sample wrote, “consistently approach Officer Moore for guidance, support, and mentorship with social-emotional issues. She is viewed by many as an honorary mother who represents confidence, optimism, and hope.”

Three of the many ways that Officer Moore contributes to the school culture are by serving as co-coordinator of the female mentoring I.T. Girls of Overlea High School, as a member of the Overlea student support team, and as a member of the Restorative Practices team. According to Sample, Officer Moore has “conducted over 100 restorative conferences,” thereby preventing numerous altercations in the school and community.

“SRO Moore is non-judgmental in her role and gives each scholar endless opportunities and support despite their disciplinary histories,” Sample wrote. “She inspires and gives hope to our scholars that each day is a new day and that our scholars are all capable of being model citizens who will make a great impact on society.”

Mo Canady, executive director of NASRO, said of Officer Moore, “It is apparent that she demonstrates the SRO Triad Concept in serving as a coach and mentor, educator, and law enforcement officer while seeking opportunities to serve her school community. It is our privilege to bestow this honor to one who exemplifies the title of school resource officer so well.”

Officer Moore will receive her award during the Aug. 5 opening ceremonies of the virtual 30th Annual NASRO School Safety Conference.

Overlea High Certified as One Love Champions To Promote Healthy Relationships


The One Love Foundation has certified Overlea High Schools as one of its four Champion Schools in recognition of their commitment, during the 2018-2019 school year, to healthy relationship education.

One Love, a national nonprofit, provides relationship health education through workshops, curriculum, and peer-to-peer discussions. Each school implements One Love in its own way.

In addition to monthly meetings, last school year, the Dulaney High One Love Club hosted a fundraising night at Chipotle, raised funds through selling Dulaney One Love merchandise, handed out Candy Grams to support loving oneself, hosted a workshop with Grace Carmichael (The One Love Foundation’s engagement manager), and led a Yards for Yeardley walk.

The One Love Club at Hereford High started the 2018-19 school year by participating in the Baltimore Running Festival. At Halloween, in collaboration with the House of Ruth Maryland, the students made dinner for House of Ruth clients and made crafts with them. For the winter holidays, the club adopted families from the House of Ruth and held a gift drive to provide them with presents. The club held a dinner and performance fundraiser in collaboration with The Moving Company Dance Center. Proceeds from the event benefited the One Love Foundation.

In addition to conducting escalation workshops, the club presented age-appropriate workshops at Hereford Middle School. Members of the club were also interviewed by WMAR-TV about their efforts to promote healthier teen dating.
Overlea High, a health sciences magnet school, used One Love curriculum to reach students in Grades 9 – 12 in their science classes. At the end of the year, a weeklong One Love celebration featured daily morning announcements and One Love discussion circles in all classes.

One Love was founded in honor of Yeardley Love, a senior at the University of Virginia, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. The family learned during the trial that her death could have been prevented had they recognized the signs of an abusive relationship. They founded One Love to educate and empower young people about the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.

Overlea High SRO named SRO of the Year

When DJ Moore became a police officer, chances are that she never envisioned being seen as a “transformational leader” at a high school. But that is how Overlea High School Principal Monica Sample describes her. And that is why Officer Moore has been named the high school level School Resource Officer of the Year for Baltimore County Public Schools.

BCPS administrators surprised Officer Moore with the news today.

According to Sample, Officer Moore is Overlea High’s “biggest cheerleader” and someone who “demonstrates commitment, loyalty, empathy, discipline, and diplomacy” and interacts with students “in a positive and restorative manner.”

“Many female scholars,” Sample wrote, “consistently approach Officer Moore for guidance, support, and mentorship with social-emotional issues. She is viewed by many as an honorary mother who represents confidence, optimism, and hope.”

Three of the many ways that Officer Moore contributes to the school culture are by serving as co-coordinator of the female mentoring Group IT Girls, as a member of the Overlea student support team, and as a member of the Restorative Practices team. According to Sample, Officer Moore has “conducted over 100 restorative conferences,” thereby preventing numerous physical altercations in the school and community.

“SRO Moore is non-judgmental in her role and gives each scholar endless opportunities and support despite their disciplinary histories. She inspires and gives hope to our scholars that each day is a new day and that our scholars are all capable of being model citizens who will make a great impact on society.”

K. Hawthorne-Jones, clinical school social worker and student mentoring coordinator, wrote that Officer Moore “has immersed herself in the culture of the school seamlessly. She has built strong relationships with students and staff. She knows how to be confident, firm, and compassionate at the same time. She believes in the good in people first and extends mercy when appropriate.”

Hawthorne-Jones concluded her recommendation: “With the addition of Officer Rawleigh, Overlea is grateful to have the best SROs a school could have. They work well together and balance one another out. You would never think that [Moore] has only been doing this job for a little over a year. She has hit the ground running and hasn’t turned back.”