Perceived Roles and Responsibilities of Secondary School Principals and School Resource Officers towards School Security

The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify the perceptions of Tennessee’s high school principals and school resource officers as to their roles and responsibilities during a school security crisis. Four thematic elements are discussed as existing among principals and school resource officers. Those thematic elements include relationships, school environment, roles, and obstacles between both groups. Previous research has examined an array of school security issues, but few have delved into this specific topic. Such knowledge is essential for the citizenry to maximize efforts of protecting students attending public schools.