Rockledge High Officer Named Florida's Top School Employee

Chris Hattaway, the school resource officer at Rockledge High School, has been named the 2026 Florida School-Related Employee of the Year by the Florida Department of Education.

Hattaway, a Rockledge High alumnus, builds relationships with students through mental health and academic support programs. He helped establish Rocking Resilience, a lunchtime program developed with a local mental health organization that teaches students social and emotional skills. He introduced K9 Trusty, Brevard Public Schools' first therapy dog, to the campus.

Hattaway created a free summer camp for incoming and at-risk students that pairs them with mentors and connects families to community resources. During the holidays, he coordinates gift distribution to more than 500 students.

His approach to school safety prioritizes trust over enforcement. Hattaway previously received Brevard Public Schools' 2025-2026 School-Related Employee of the Year award.

Rockledge High School enrolls about 1,800 students in grades 9-12. Brevard Public Schools serves approximately 73,000 students across the county.