After 27 years in law enforcement, Carroll County Middle School School Resource Officer Tim Gividen has earned a new title that reaches far beyond the halls of his school.
Gividen was recently elected president of the Kentucky Association of School Resource Officers (KyASRO), a statewide organization that supports and advocates for the nearly 935 school resource officers serving Kentucky students.
Gividen said he’s very proud of the accomplishment and looks forward to helping SRO’s throughout the state in his new role.
His election marks the latest step in a leadership journey that began in 2018 when he joined the organization's board as the Region 4 representative, serving 13 counties in Northern Kentucky. In 2023, he was elected vice president. This year, he was elected president.
The opportunity came shortly after Gividen's retirement from full-time law enforcement. Retirement lasted only about four months.
"I got bored," he said with a laugh.
Returning to serve students was an easy decision for someone who has spent the past decade building relationships in Carroll County Schools.
Gividen became a school resource officer in 2016. During his first year, he was responsible for every school in the district. As additional SROs joined the team, he chose to remain at Carroll County Middle School.
"I like this age group," he said. "It's a tough time for kids, and I remember middle school was tough for me. I thought if I could make a difference, it would be here."
That decision has paid off in ways that go far beyond school safety.
A steady stream of students visits his office each day, whether they need advice, want to share good news or simply stop by to talk.
"I probably have two dozen kids who come by regularly," Gividen said. "They're telling me something good they've done, asking for help or just checking in."
His role also extends to the football field, where he helps coach Carroll County High School football. Many of his middle school students are preparing to join the high school program, creating another opportunity to mentor them.
"We check in every day about grades, football and what's going on," he said.
Those relationships are a major reason Gividen believes school resource officers are so important.
As KyASRO president, he hopes to continue strengthening support for officers across the state. The organization works closely with the Kentucky Center for School Safety, provides mentorship opportunities, offers scholarships, recognizes outstanding SROs and helps shape discussions about school safety legislation.
"We're the voice of SROs in Kentucky," Gividen said.
The role comes at a time when school resource officers are more common than ever. When Gividen joined the profession in 2016, there were roughly 400 SROs statewide. Today, that number has more than doubled following legislation that increased the presence of school resource officers in Kentucky schools.
Carroll County Schools Superintendent Casey Jaynes congratulated Gividen on the new position. “I have had the pleasure of working with many SRO’s over my career and he is an excellent selection due to his concern and passion for all students,” Jaynes said.
Gividen credits Carroll County Schools for helping establish many of the safety practices that have gained statewide attention. School leaders regularly participate in safety conferences, and district representatives often serve on boards and committees focused on school security.
"Safety has always been the number one priority here," he said.
As president, Gividen expects to serve on additional boards, fill vacancies within the organization and help guide its future. Most importantly, he wants to ensure school resource officers across Kentucky have the support they need to succeed.
"I want to move the organization forward and be there for the SROs," he said. "Things are changing every year, and there's always new legislation. We want to help officers navigate that and continue serving students."