Hays CISD has named Jeri Skrocki, a 30-year veteran of the Hays County Sheriff’s Department, as its new director of safety and security, the district announced July 30.

Skrocki’s most recent role at the sheriff’s department was to supervise the criminal investigations division, but she also served in a variety of other positions, including as the school resource officer. In 2018, she helped to coordinate a countywide standard safety response protocol and was recognized by Governor Greg Abbott for her work; she was also included as a member of Abbott’s roundtable discussions on school safety in the wake of the Santa Fe High School shooting.

The position of Hays CISD director of safety and security was created in 2018 in response to the shooting at Santa Fe High School “in recognition of the need for the district to employ a senior-level leader who has no other duties besides safety and security management,” according to a release.

Skrocki has a degree from Southwestern Texas State University, now Texas State University, and is also a certified mental health peace officer and expert in the area of child abuse.

In her letter of interest for the position, according to the district, Skrocki wrote, “I believe our most precious resource is our children and the dedicated men and women who serve them … I strive to build a permanent connection between emergency services and school campuses to ensure the safety of faculty, students and staff.”