As another school year begins across Miami-Dade County, I want to wish every student, teacher, administrator and school employee a safe, successful and rewarding 2026-27 school year.

The first day of school brings excitement, new opportunities and fresh goals. It can also bring understandable anxiety for parents. Please know that the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is committed to protecting your children every day they step onto a campus, board a school bus or walk through a crosswalk.

Recently, we completed the first countywide community survey in our agency’s history. While we heard encouraging feedback about the trust our community places in us, one message stood out above all others: School safety is your top priority.

Protecting our schools requires a comprehensive approach. Our highly trained Priority Response Teams continually prepare to respond to critical incidents. The Guardian Program, a public school safety initiative established by the Florida Legislature, trains designated school personnel and security staff to protect campuses. The MDSO Training Center serves as a major regional training hub for that program. 

Safety also begins long before the school bell rings. Our dedicated crossing guards safely escort thousands of students across busy intersections each day, and our school zone speed enforcement program reminds motorists that slowing down saves lives. Our children are our community’s most precious resource, and every layer of protection matters.

Just as important is building relationships. Throughout the year and during the summer, our deputies connect with young people through camps, mentorship programs and community events. I always enjoy visiting our schools because spending time with students reminds me why this work matters. Those conversations help strengthen trust and reinforce that MDSO is here not only to protect our youth, but to support and encourage them.

To our students: Dream big, work hard and make this your best year yet.

To our parents: Thank you for trusting us with your greatest responsibility. We will continue working every day to help ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and return home safely.

Sheriff Rosie