Southlake Police Department’s School Resource Officer Anthony Pate has been named “Texas Instructor of the Year” by L.E.A.D., Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence, a national nonprofit focused on drug and violence prevention education. The honor was announced at L.E.A.D.’s 10th annual training conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Pate currently teaches L.E.A.D.’s evidence-based curriculum to seventh and eighth grade students at Dawson Middle School in Southlake, reaching nearly 100 students each year. The 10-week program helps students develop essential life skills—starting with goal setting and expanding to emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and drug and alcohol awareness.
“The most rewarding part is interacting with the students and giving them tools to make better decisions,” said Pate. “We talk about real-life situations, and I encourage them to have honest conversations with their parents.”
The program is designed to foster stronger police-community ties by creating personal connections in the classroom.
“Kids get to know us as people, and we get to know them by name,” {ate said.
L.E.A.D. CEO Nick DeMauro also praised Pate’s impact.
“His dedication to prevention education is exactly what our mission is about—building safer communities through trusted relationships,” DeMauro said.