The Bridgeport schools administrative leadership team welcomes Michelle Anderson, who will start next year as the district’s resource officer. Anderson visited the district campus with Sheriff James G. Zusack and Chief Deputy Glenn Moore. She brings experience at the county and state levels and looks forward to meeting the students. (Photo Provided)

Bridgeport schools will welcome a new resource officer next school year, as Michelle Anderson will be patrolling the halls this fall after the retirement of longtime resource officer Harley Johnston.

Anderson brings experience to the job, with 27 years in law enforcement starting at the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office in 1997. She worked in the county jail, as a road deputy and a domestic violence investigator and a member of the SWAT team. Anderson worked for five and a half years with Belmont County, then for 22 and a half years at the state level as a member of the Ohio Investigative Unit.

“I retired, then I got hired back at the sheriff’s office and I’m going to be at Bridgeport schools next year,” she said.

School officials met Anderson and showed her around campus last month. She was impressed with what she saw.

“I’ll get along good with the kids, and the staff seem great. I met quite a few of them today. I think it’ll be a good fit, and I’m excited,” she said. “It looks like a great school. All of the staff and the superintendent were welcoming.”

A lifelong Belmont County resident, Anderson has lived in the Colerain area and now resides in St. Clairsville and has family members who are Bridgeport High graduates. She looks forward to working in the school setting.

“I’m going to be working with the kids and doing things to encourage them,” she said. “Just getting to know the kids and being there for lunch periods and recess and making sure they’re safe and they’re where they’re supposed to be. Safety’s the biggest thing, and getting to know them, and knowing that law enforcement is not a bad thing – that we’re good, and when they need us, they should come to us if they have any problems or issues. And I want them to know that if there’s anything that they hear or anything that could be suspicious or dicey, they can come and tell me.”

She said building strong bonds of confidence is essential.

“I just want to make sure that the kids know they’re going to be safe and don’t have to worry about anything going on while they’re at school,” she said. “They’re there to learn and in a safe environment.”

Anderson also expects to assist with security for the upcoming state-funded facility to be dubbed “the Bridge” that will serve as a center for education and training, health services and community events.

“It seems like it’s going to be adult learners and a clinic for people to come to,” she said. “I’m assuming it’ll be part of my rounds for making sure everybody’s safe.”

Superintendent Brent Ripley said Anderson will be a valuable addition to the team.

“Mrs. Anderson came highly recommended by Sheriff (James) Zusack, as they have worked together in prior years. I wanted to get her in to meet our administrative team so she can get a feel for how we operate in the Bridgeport EVSD. In July, she will be attending our board meeting to meet the school board,” Ripley noted. “We are incredibly thankful to Harley Johnston, and his presence and impact will be missed. And we are also very excited in embracing Mrs. Anderson as she enters our district to make a positive impact on our students, parents, staff, faculty and community.”

The new school year begins in late August.