NORWAY — The Guy E. Rowe Elementary School’s new School Resource Officer – Officer Holli Pullen – may be new to the school as its SRO but the school isn’t new to Pullen.

From 2015 to 2019, Pullen, 39, of Paris, worked there as an ed tech. The SRO position opened up as she was leaving her ed tech position but she chose not to apply as she felt it would be difficult for students and staff alike to understand the extreme switch in roles. Instead, she went to work for Norway Police Department.

However, when former SRO Ashley Rich went to work for Mexico Police, Pullen seized the opportunity to return to Rowe. “I knew the school, its teachers and administrators, so I applied,” she says, “I figured it was a good place to come back to [and] it was a very good choice!”

Only on board for a few months, Pullen is busy building positive relationships with students and staff. “It’s challenging,” she says, “there are so many different kids and behaviors.”

She tells how some students – who have had bad experiences with police – are now opening up and talking with her.

She notes how social media bullying is currently a problem. “Kids are so mean to each other!”

Alongside relationship building, she is working on the school’s emergency management plan.

“Our goal is to get it finalized and practiced by the end of the year,” she says.

Her other goal?

“To learn all 410 kids names!”

“Officer Holli” sits with some of the students she enjoys at the Guy E. Rowe Elementary School. From left, Madix Troman, 8; Marshall Dingley, 5 and Piper Yates, 7. School A.M. Sheehan/Advertiser Democrat