Boone County deputy praised for student relationships, awarded Break the Mold at Ackerman Middle

Deputy Saunders, a Boone County Sheriff's Office school resource officer at Ackerman Middle School, received the school’s Break the Mold Award after staff and students described his relationship-building and classroom work as central to school safety.

“People may see that badge and that uniform and make certain assumptions … he is a deputy for Boone County Sheriffs, but he's a teacher in this building,” an unnamed Ackerman staff member said during the presentation. The staff member added that Saunders “does as much teaching and encouraging and modeling as any adult does in this building for our kids.”

Students who spoke at the event cited specific examples of the deputy’s outreach. One student said, “When he gave me that, it made me feel like I was important to him. Like, I meant something to him.” Another student described Saunders’ informal lessons and personal interest in students’ lives, saying their conversations and shared cultural moments changed how they viewed adults in uniform.

Saunders told the group he is finishing his ninth year at the school and described drawing on his Marine Corps background when asked to speak in classrooms: “With my background in the military, they might ask, hey, we're studying World War I … I can tell you this piece of it.” Staff noted he also brings his experience to the district level; the transcript records that “in addition to his duties as school resource officer, Deputy Saunders serves as the SRO division liaison on the Boone County School District monthly safety committee.”

Speakers credited the deputy with contributing to a sense of safety on campus. One staff speaker said, “I feel safe every day, and I know that's because of the work he's doing, not only here, but at the district level too.” The remarks combined personal anecdotes and institutional notes about Saunders’ roles rather than announcing new policy or a change in procedures.

No formal actions, votes, or policy changes were recorded during the recognition. The event centered on the award presentation and remarks from staff and students about Saunders’ impact on school climate.