East View Criminal Justice Students Join Campus Safety Efforts
At East View High School (EVHS), a group of students start their days with a focus on safety and teamwork. Before the first bell rings, seniors Juan Ledesma, Jovani Silveria, Dayanna Tapia Matta and Cameron Watkins meet with the campus security guard to prepare for morning door checks.
“After we check in with the security guard, we split into two groups and begin our routine walks,” said Silveira. “Diana and I cover one half of the building, while Juan and Cameron check the other half. Every area is covered.”
The task is simple, but essential: Check that every exterior door on campus is secure.
“The purpose of the door checks is to make sure every door on campus is closed and no one is trying to get inside,” Watkins said. “We’re trained to do it in a timely manner and follow protocols to make sure nothing is overlooked.”
To help the team keep track of any findings, Silveira and Matta created a highly detailed system.
“We document everything in a spreadsheet and share it with campus administrators,” said Silveira. “This helps ensure issues are quickly addressed, and keeps staff informed as they conduct their daily afternoon checks.”
While the experience provides students with hands-on, real-world safety experience, the work does not happen without staff oversight and guidance.
“If we see something suspicious during door checks, we use walkie talkies to get in touch with a staff member,” said Ledesma. “We’re still students at the end of the day, so we don’t interfere with anything. That’s why we work so closely with security and administration.”
Criminal Justice Instructor Chrystal Gonzalez, or “Mrs. G ", as the students call her, says she is inspired by the initiative her students have taken to play a role in school safety.
“It has been amazing to watch the students collaborate with each other and our security team in building a system to ensure the safety of our school,” said Gonzalez.
For Matta, being involved in her school’s safety efforts gives her a sense of purpose.
“We’re learning how to keep our school safe from outsiders and making sure everything is working as it should,” she said. “There’s a sense of pride because we get to play a part in ensuring the safety of other students and staff.”
Each student sees this program as a stepping stone toward future goals
Silveira plans to enlist in the Navy as a Master-at-Arms, a naval police role. “This teaches me how to keep my post and check doors, which are skills that will apply in the Navy,” he shared.
Ledesma plans to become a police officer, probation officer, or firefighter. “This job has a lot of responsibility, and how I act in the halls reflects on Mrs. G and the Criminal Justice program,” he said. “It’s a reminder that when I eventually start my career, my actions on the job will reflect on my community and my team.”
Matta plans to study psychology or behavioral and social data sciences in college, with a goal of becoming a criminal investigator. “This role helps me learn how to track data, use it effectively, and stay detail-oriented – all skills that will be crucial to my future plans” she said.
Although Watkins plans to study construction management in college, he’s learned many skills in Criminal Justice to help him in his career.
“These opportunities make me feel like a leader,” he said. “I get to help protect students at East View, and it gives me responsibility and leadership experience that will help me in everything.”
