Sgt. Scott Schmitt loves

his job so much that he's quitting.

He resigned from the

Peachtree City Police Department last week after serving

as the school resource officer at McIntosh High School

for the past three years. Students, however, won't miss

him at all when school cranks up again in the fall.

That's when Sgt. Schmitt begins his first year as a

special education teacher.

Schmitt developed a law

enforcement class and began teaching it during his second

semester at McIntosh. He designed it so students could

learn how police officers do their jobs, the history of

policing ... and the consequences of breaking the law.

The students "ran

radar" on traffic passing in front of the school.

They learned how to lift fingerprints from various

surfaces.

But mostly, Schmitt wanted

to break the ice with the students so they could get to

know him a little better. So they could trust him. After

a while, students began to seek him out for advice.

"They may just need

someone to talk to because they're not getting attention

at home or they're fighting with their friends,"

Schmitt said. "Or maybe they don't have anyone else

to talk to.

"Instead of punishing

them, if we just listen when they need to talk, that

would help."

McIntosh Principal Greg

Stillions said the law enforcement class was incredibly

well received by students. He also hopes Schmitt can find

time to teach the class again this fall. The school might

develop the class into a series of courses so students

can be better qualified for police jobs when they leave

high school, Stillions added.

"The kids loved the

class," Stillions said. "He's so good with our

kids because of his rapport with them."

The class field trip always

got the kids' attention, Schmitt said. They'd go to

Jackson State Prison, where death row inmates are housed,

so they could see what happens if they ever committed a

crime that resulted in the loss of their freedoms.

He called that lesson the

most important part of the semester-long class.

"After we come back, I

have them write a short essay on how it must feel to have

your freedom taken away," Schmitt said. "It

really makes them think about what can happen."

He also informed them that

the law gives them few freedoms while they are on school

grounds.

Schmitt made such a

positive impression with students that many would visit

him during school to help sort out the troubles in their

lives with school, parents, the law or other issues.

"In the classroom you

get to know a kid in a different way than just talking to

them in the hall," Schmitt said.

Eventually, two students

unknowingly helped Schmitt make the decision to abandon

law enforcement altogether so he could teach. One student

wrote him a note several months after she graduated,

letting him know she appreciated the law enforcement

class and the lessons she learned.

A tribute from another

student came in the mailbox one day in the form of a

letter from "Who's Who Among American

Teachers." Schmitt opened the envelope and found his

name listed inside.

Though numerous teachers

are recognized by that publication, Schmitt was flattered

that a student nominated him for the honor.

"Just being able to

know that an ex-student thought I made an impact on their

life in the classroom, that's great," Schmitt said

proudly.

Schmitt is working on his

master's degree in special education at State University

of West Georgia. For now, Stillions is more than happy to

have Schmitt in the special education department,

especially considering the statewide shortage of special

education teachers.

"The need for special

education teachers is phenomenal," Stillions said.

Schmitt has built a solid

track record as a police officer and teacher, winning the

Peachtree City Rotary Club's Officer of the Year award

twice and being named McIntosh's teacher of the month in

December of 1999.

Schmitt, who has coached

football for the school since 1994, has also been

promoted to head varsity assistant coach. He will serve

as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator for the upcoming

gridiron season.

Not bad for a guy who

originally aspired to join the U.S. Secret Service and

protect the President of the United States. He's more

than ecstatic being able to teach, coach and be a solid

role model for the students at McIntosh.

"It's really what I

wanted," he said with a smile. The gaze he returned

let you know he meant exactly what he said, deep down to

the core of his heart.