Easton Area School District alumnus and school police officer Stephen Schleig has received national recognition after being selected as the recipient of the 2026 National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) Bridge the Gap Award. The award is considered one of the nation’s most respected honors in the field of school based policing and recognizes School Resource Officers and school police professionals who demonstrate leadership, mentorship, professionalism, relationship building, and dedication to students and their communities.
According to NASRO’s official recognition letter, Officer Schleig was recognized for his “significant commitment to positive behavioral intervention services and at risk youth,” along with his service, compassion, and continued support of the school community. NASRO is widely regarded as the leading organization for School Resource Officers and school safety professionals in the United States.
More than 700,000 sworn law enforcement officers currently serve nationwide, while only an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 work specifically within school based policing as School Resource Officers or School Police Officers. Schleig’s selection places him among a highly specialized group of professionals serving schools and students across the country. The recognition also carries added significance under the leadership of NASRO Executive Director MoCanady, one of the nation’s leading voices in school safety and student centered policing.
On July 25, 2024, NASRO announced that Canady had been appointed by the United States Department of Homeland Security to serve on the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board. The board helps guide national school safety initiatives, evidence based practices, and federal recommendations involving the protection of students and educational communities throughout the country. Officer Schleig was also among the finalists considered for NASRO’s 2026 National Officer of the Year recognition, further highlighting the level of respect he has earned within the profession on a national scale.
Among more than 700,000 sworn law enforcement officers serving nationwide, the recognition reflects the significance and competitiveness of being considered among the nation’s top school policing professionals. In addition to the NASRO honor, Schleig has also been selected to compete for the nationally recognized R.I.S.E. Award, which recognizes leadership, mentorship, innovation, and service within educational communities. Unlike awards focused solely on law enforcement, the R.I.S.E. Award includes educational support professionals from across the country, including school safety personnel, paraprofessionals, behavioral specialists, transportation staff, student services professionals, lunch aides, and other employees who play an important role in supporting students and school communities nationwide.
Hundreds of thousands of professionals serve in these roles nationwide, making the award process highly competitive. His selection for the R.I.S.E. Award further reflects his continued focus on leadership, mentorship, and student engagement. Over the past year, Officer Schleig has also received several additional recognitions for service and leadership.
In September 2025, he was credited with helping save the life of a two week old infant during an emergency response and later received commendations from both the City of Easton and the Easton Area School District. In January 2026, Schleig was featured by the Easton Area School District through its Profile of a Graduate Spotlight recognition, highlighting leadership, professionalism, character, mentorship, and commitment to the school community. Schleig was also recognized through FBI-LEEDA for continued leadership and professional development. Schleig has additionally remained actively involved in student and community engagement initiatives throughout the district.
In April 2026, the Easton Area School District recognized Schleig for organizing the district’s 4th Annual National Leadership Pizza Day at Cheston Elementary School, an initiative focused on connecting students with community leaders while promoting mentorship, leadership, and positive community involvement.Through his S.T.O.R.M. Team initiative, Schleig has continued developing outreach programs focused on mentorship, positive student engagement, and strengthening relationships between schools, law enforcement, and the community. In November 2025, Schleig also helped organize and lead an Operation WARM outreach initiative that provided winter clothing and support to students and families in need throughout the community. Schleig said he hopes to continue growing the initiative into an annual community program supporting students and families throughout the district. Schleig has also been involved in helping establish and support the continued growth of the Easton Area School District’s Shop with a Cop initiative, focused on strengthening positive relationships between law enforcement, students, and families throughout the community.
Outside of his law enforcement responsibilities, Schleig also volunteers as an assistant with the Easton Area High School varsity track and field program and serves as an assistant Cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack 29 in Easton, continuing his involvement in youth mentorship and community engagement beyond the school environment.
For Schleig, the recognition represents an opportunity to continue giving back to the community that helped shape his life. A graduate of the Easton Area School District, he now serves within the same schools and community that helped shape his life and professional foundation. “I owe much of my work ethic, values, and professional foundation to the Easton Area School District,” Schleig said. “As someone who once walked these hallways as a student, it means a great deal to now serve and protect the same schools and community that helped shape who I am today.” “Serving the Easton Area School District is personal to me because this community invested in me growing up,” he added. “I take tremendous pride in being able to give back to our students, staff, and families. Every experience throughout my life and career has strengthened my commitment to mentorship, service, and protecting the next generation.”
Officer Schleig will officially receive the 2026 NASRO Bridge the Gap Award on June 29, 2026, during the NASRO National Conference in Reno, Nevada. The conference brings together school safety professionals, law enforcement leaders, educators, and school personnel from across the United States for advanced training, collaboration, leadership development, and professional networking focused on strengthening school safety and student engagement.Schleig said he looks forward to bringing the professional development, training, and networking opportunities gained through the conference back to the Easton Area School District to continue building upon the district’s strong commitment to student safety, mentorship, and community focused school safety initiatives. The recognitions reflect a continued focus on student mentorship, relationship building, and community engagement throughout the Easton Area School District. They also highlight the growing importance of mentorship, student engagement, and community focused school safety initiatives within schools and communities nationwide.
