HUMANS SHS OF
Isabela Diaz
Abby Doriot
Rita Nicholson
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Copy Editor
LISA SHULZE AND COOPER
Photo by Abby Doriot
Speaking to students in the Commons during lunch, Lisa Shulze encourages students to particpate in school events.
Each week Lisa stands in front of the lunchroom telling the students about the upcoming sporting events and themes for the cheer block. She comes in to get them excited to show school spirit and support their teams. She talks about all of the upcoming games and tells us how we can get involved with our school events. Sometimes she brings Cooper, her grandson, and sometimes she comes alone. Aside from that, not much is known about her. Shulze first got involved about seven years ago, and now, she is the head of the Pep Club. “I’ve always gone to Scottsburg sports, and they just asked me if I’d be interested in helping the kids show spirit,” she said.
Photo by Isabela Diaz
Cooper is Lisa’s grandson and sidekick when it comes to visiting the high school each week. He is five years old and in preschool. Like any other kid, he loves to spend his free time playing. Currently, he “works” for Arbuckle Electric, but when he grows up, he wants to be a police officer.
Even after those seven years, she continues to come back, year after year, to get the students at SHS excited about sports. “I have nephews and nieces that are still here, so I want them to show school spirit. I think if I do it, they will continue to do it too,” Shulze said. When she is not at SHS, Shulze works at the Mariann Travel Inn as a desk clerk. However, when she has free time, Shulze spends time with Cooper, her five-yearold grandson. Just from watching them while they’re at school, you can tell that Cooper plays a major role in her life. “He is my first grandchild, and I just love him so much,” Shulze said. With all that she does, Lisa still manages to dedicate a small part of her life to making sure SHS has strong school spirit. “I just truly think that Scottsburg has a lot of good kids here,” Shulze said.
OFFICER RODNEY WATTS Rodney Watts said he was a little nervous on his first day as the school resource officer but is more comfortable now. “I’m invested now. I love my job,” he said, “and it’s a good career.” The job takes on a personal side for Watts too. “My son’s a freshman at Austin, so he’s friends with a lot of these kids. A lot of these kids have grown up at my house,” he said. “It’s [been] a fun year.” Watts’ dream as a child was to become a police officer. He attended the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville and graduated with a degree in criminology. He then attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. In 1998, his dream became a reality. He now has 21 years of experience. He is also more than just a school resource officer. Watts is able to instruct others in a variety of topics, from firearms to criminal law and almost anything related to law enforcement. “[Firearms] are kind of a passion of mine, so I really enjoy that,” Watts said. He described the process of becoming a firearms instructor as grueling due to the heavy requisites needed to pass. Potential instructors had to go through a 10 day course and shoot at least three targets in order to graduate. “It was difficult,” Watts said.
Photo by Rita Nicholson
Watts’ duties differ when he is on the school campus. He described his duties as “just securing the perimeter of the school and making sure the kids are safe. I check the parking lot for cars [and occupants] that shouldn’t be there.” Watts has been married to his wife for 20 years and has two kids, Brooklyn and Brady. He can also be found hunting or fishing in his free time.
School Resource Officer Rodney Watts places a high value on the relationships he has with the students he protects every day. He said that his favorite thing about the job is the “interaction with the students.”
Visit TheBoosterOnline.com to seeThe Booster’s pick of the Pet of the Month. Each animal is fostered by the Humane Society, and The Booster Staff picks one to be featured every week.
Features
September 2019
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