District Welcomes School Resource Officers Pedersen and Ludwig

Each day, School Resource Officers (SRO) interact with students, staff, and the community, serving as a resource for safety and security. SROs work to develop safety procedures, conduct safety drills, and assist staff in various situations. At Sycamore Community School District 427, two SROs oversee these responsibilities — one based at Sycamore Middle School (SMS) and another based at Sycamore High School (SHS). 

Although she is new to her SRO role at SMS, Officer Kaitlyn Pedersen is no stranger to the district. Pedersen graduated from SHS in 2008 and formerly worked as a paraprofessional and OSCAR site director.

Pedersen earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and attended the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Most recently, Pedersen worked as a patrol officer with the Sycamore Police Department. 

Pedersen prides herself on her communication and leadership skills, including when responding to crises and addressing individuals with mental health conditions. 

Officer Dan Ludwig joins SHS as an SRO from his most recent role as a patrol officer with the Sycamore Police Department. 

Ludwig earned his associate’s degree in science from Waubonsee Community College before attending the University of Illinois Police Training Institute in Urbana-Champaign. Since then, Ludwig has received special training in over a dozen topics, including Narcan administration for opioid overdose, mental health, and active shooter response. 

Ludwig believes his positive attitude and creative problem-solving ability have served him well in this profession, and he has enjoyed interacting with the students and staff at SHS in his new role as SRO. 

Welcome to the district, Officers Pedersen and Ludwig!