Students, West Linn High School Principal Trevor Menne, ASB advisor Blake Williams and Officer Jabral Johnson on Monday, May 5. (Mac Larsen/West Linn Tidings)

West Linn High School’s Student Resource Officer Jabral Johnson received national recognition for the work he does protecting and providing support for students.

Johnson was awarded the National Association of Student Resource Officers Award of Excellence for region 9, which includes Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Hawaii and Alaska.

“I’m extremely grateful,” said Johnson. “I didn’t know anything about it. I didn’t know I was nominated. I didn’t know anything. So I was just extremely grateful and thankful when I learned I was selected.”

Johnson has served as SRO at West Linn High School for the past four years. He provides police department-coordinated resources and services for all West Linn schools as well.

“I got this role right after the death of George Floyd and also during COVID,” said Johnson. “A lot of places did not want police officers in schools, so when I got this role, my main goal was to bridge that gap between our community members and law enforcement.”

Johnson connected with the school’s Black Student Union and attended their meetings to answer questions, but mainly just to be part of the community.

“My goal is to answer truthfully and be transparent with them about whatever questions they have — that’s one of the perks they have of being able to ask me anything,” said Johnson.

Last year, he even volunteered to be in the group’s Juneteenth Celebration dunk tank to fundraise.

“I hopped in that bad boy. It was cold, man,” said Johnson.

Johnson has worked for the West Linn Police Department for six years and is leaving the post at West Linn High School to return to patrol and eventually move back home to Texas.

At the Monday, May 5 school board meeting, Johnson was recognized by students and administrators for his service in the district. He’ll be recognized by at the annual National School Safety Conference in Dallas, Texas on Monday, July 7.

“A majority of the work can’t be taught. It’s something that you learn and on the go,” said Johnson. “As far as, getting in within the community, and, interacting with teachers and students and families, that’s just something that you kind of just pick up along the way.”