Every morning, I hold my 3-year-old daughter’s hand and walk her into school.
She has autism. She sees the world differently — beautifully, honestly, and sometimes with heightened sensitivity to noise, confusion and unpredictability. What may feel routine to others can feel overwhelming to her.
So when we walk toward that school entrance, I am not just thinking about the day’s lessons. I am thinking about her safety. I am thinking about calm transitions. I am thinking about whether the environment around her feels stable and protected.
But this story is not just about my daughter.
It is about every child in Prince George’s County who walks to school and every parent who waits for them to come home.
In 2024, after pedestrian tragedies and growing concerns about student safety during arrival and dismissal times, I began conversations with Prince George’s County Board of Education Member Branndon Jackson about a simple but urgent truth: safety does not begin at the classroom door. It begins the moment a child steps onto a sidewalk.
From that belief, Safe Passage was born.
The mission was clear:
• Place trained, visible adults along student travel routes
• Focus on high-traffic and high-concern areas
• Prevent conflict through presence
• Build trust between schools and surrounding communities
• Ensure that students feel protected — not policed
In spring 2024, the Safe Passage pilot launched around six schools: Suitland High School, Largo High School, Charles Herbert Flowers High School, Central High School, Bladensburg High School and Andrew Jackson Middle School.
Volunteers stood at key intersections and dismissal corridors. They were trained to observe, de-escalate, and report concerns — not to physically intervene. County leaders helped fund the initiative, and organizers sought hundreds of volunteers to ensure consistent coverage.
What changed was not just staffing. It was atmosphere.
Parents expressed relief. Students reported feeling safer walking home. School leaders observed calmer dismissal periods. When adults show up intentionally and visibly, behavior shifts.
For children with special needs, predictability and safety are even more critical. A chaotic or unsafe environment can be more than stressful — it can be destabilizing. But again, this is not only about children with autism. It is about all children.
Every student deserves to move through their community without fear.
Today, Prince George’s County Public Schools has formally incorporated Safe Passage Coordinators within its Safety and Security Services framework. According to the district, these coordinators monitor designated routes before and after school, build trusted relationships with students, identify safety concerns in surrounding neighborhoods, de-escalate conflicts, and serve as bridges between schools and the community.
That progression matters.
It means Safe Passage evolved from a community-driven idea into part of the district’s structured safety approach. It reinforces the understanding that student achievement cannot be separated from student security.
But institutional recognition must now be matched with sustained commitment.
Safe Passage should include:
• Dedicated funding
• Data-driven placement in high-need areas
• Strong coordination with traffic safety and infrastructure planning
• Ongoing partnership between families, volunteers, and district officials
When I let go of my daughter’s hand at the school entrance, I am trusting that the adults and systems around her are working together to protect her — and every other child walking through those doors.
This is not about politics. It is not about credit. It is about responsibility.
Safe Passage began with a mission: ensure that every child in Prince George’s County has a safe path to opportunity.
As a father — and as a member of this community — I believe that mission must remain permanent.
Because every child deserves a safe walk to school.
And every parent deserves peace of mind when they watch their child come home.