The Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education approved the promotion of district security officer Ashley Stark to Director of Safety and Security during the regular meeting session on Monday, July 24.

Stark has served as a district security officer since 2018, starting at Whittier High School then moving to Smith-Cotton High in the 2019-20 school year. A Smith-Cotton graduate and United States Navy veteran, Stark also has served as a juvenile detention officer in the Missouri Division of Youth Services, a deputy juvenile officer for the state’s 18th Judicial Circuit and as a youth care advisor for the Johnson County (Mo.) Department of Corrections. She earned an associate’s degree of applied science in Criminal Justice from State Fair Community College.

The district’s Director of Safety and Security is responsible for developing, implementing and managing programs designed to provide a safe and secure environment for students, staff, parents and patrons. They also coordinate a comprehensive school safety program, which includes working with public safety agencies and district personnel, and addressing emergency situations as outlined in district and building safety plans.