Safety is strongest when it feels like family

By The LCS Communications Department | Lisa Roberson

LORAIN — They once shared a two-bedroom apartment with 14 family members. Now, they share a school building and a calling to serve.

At Lorain High School, brothers Lynnwood McGrier and Darrel Smalls are reimagining what school safety looks and feels like. McGrier, a Lorain police officer and the district's new school resource officer (SRO), brings a steady presence and law enforcement experience. Smalls, Lorain Schools' Safety Coordinator, leans on a school counseling background rooted in emotional regulation, trauma-informed care and deep listening.

Together, they are showing up for students in ways that go beyond rules and routines.

"By being present, we show students they can overcome their own challenges and still build successful, meaningful careers," Smalls said. "Our presence tells them: you belong here."

From purpose to profession

Smalls did not always know that this work was his purpose, but others saw it in him early on.

"Growing up, I was always that one family member the younger generation came to, whether they needed to laugh, joke around or have a serious heart-to-heart," he said. "At the time, I just thought I was the cool one. I didn't realize it was a calling.”

That realization came into focus when he joined Lorain City Schools as a safety officer. Working with students stirred something in him. He began to see his own childhood struggles reflected in the faces of students navigating systems not built for them.

"I wanted to prove that a kid from the ghettos of New York City could rise above poverty, pain and statistics," Smalls said. "That he could blossom into an educated Black man with purpose, integrity and faith.”

Smalls recently earned a master's degree in school counseling and said his journey has become a testament to what's possible.

"Being a Black man who has walked through adversity allows me to connect with students on a deeper level," he said. "My story gives me credibility to speak life into young people who are living through the same struggles I once faced. When students see someone who looks like them and who's made it through, it gives them hope.”

Back where it began

For Officer McGrier, that same sense of purpose is grounded in place.

He's a 2011 graduate of Lorain High, a former track star and a familiar face to many in the building. Before attending the police academy, he worked as a substitute safety officer and volunteered to coach track. His name still sits on the record board.

"I've always known this school," he said. "I never really left. I came back for games, to visit family, to see old teachers. So when the SRO role opened up, it just made sense.”

Reuben Figueroa, executive director of safety and security for Lorain City Schools, said bringing McGrier back in this elevated role was a full-circle moment.

"When we hired Lynnwood years ago as a safety officer, we saw immediately his compassion and his ability to connect with students," Figueroa said. "He wasn't just keeping hallways safe, he was changing lives by how he listened, guided and encouraged. That same heart and consistency made him the right choice for the SRO position. His badge represents authority, but his character represents mentorship and trust.”

Two lanes, one mission

Smalls and McGrier bring different strengths to the work, but their foundation is the same: relationships first.

"My approach is rooted in compassion and empathy," Smalls said. "I focus on understanding the 'why' behind a student's behavior, recognizing that many actions stem from trauma.”

McGrier agrees. He sees the SRO role as an opportunity to model consistency, something many students may not experience outside of school.

"Sometimes it's not even about policing," he said. "It's just being there. Being that person someone can confide in.”

Their ability to lean on each other in the moment makes a real difference for students.

"There was a recent situation where a student was extremely upset and not responding well to staff," Smalls said. "Because Lynnwood and I trust each other and know our strengths, we quickly decided how to approach it. I was able to sit with the student and listen, giving space for emotions to come down, while my brother stood close by to ensure the environment stayed safe. That combination of him maintaining order and me providing empathy helped the student feel both secure and understood, and it prevented things from escalating further.”

What it looks like in the halls

Figueroa said that dynamic is exactly what a modern safety team should look like.

"They balance each other perfectly," he said. "Together, they form a bridge where one side ensures structure and the other ensures support. For students, that means they see safety not as something done to them, but something done for them.”

It's already making a visible difference. Between lunch check-ins, hallway conversations and constant visibility, students are responding.

"I've seen students run up to them with smiles, hugs and stories,” Figueroa said. "I've watched kids who might normally shy away from authority figures feel comfortable opening up. That kind of shift doesn't come from titles, it comes from authenticity.”

 

The standard in 2025

When asked what a strong school safety program looks like in 2025, Figueroa doesn't start with security systems or metal detectors.

"Safety is strongest when it feels like family,” he said. “For our students to witness that bond lived out daily sends a powerful message about unity, trust and care.”

That mindset aligns with Superintendent Dr. Jeff Graham's charge to lead with love.

At the district's convocation in August, Graham reminded every teacher, administrator, coach and staff member that prioritizing student well-being is at the core of the district's identity. No one person, program or policy can function in a silo, he said.

The impact of presence

For Smalls and McGrier, presence is the strategy. And for students, that presence is powerful.

“At the end of the day, students just want to be seen, heard and understood,” Smalls said. "I carry that responsibility with pride, knowing that every conversation, every smile, and every word of encouragement could be the spark that helps another young person believe they can overcome, too.”

As McGrier puts it: "If we can be the reason one student feels safer, stronger or more supported today, that’s a good day."