Keeping children safe in Sisters

He's out there every school day, braving the elements and wielding a stop sign on the busy streets next to Sisters Elementary School.

He's Bill Mitchell, a Title One Education Assistant and retired PGA golf professional.

"When I took the job," said Mitchell, "crossing guard wasn't part of the job description."

For six years he's worked at Sisters Elementary School, originally hired as an education assistant working with special needs students. Now he is a Title One assistant helping first and second graders who need a boost in their reading skills. The Title One program provides federal grants to provide additional academic support and learning opportunities to help children meet state standards in core subjects.

"We use phonics and other methods to help get their reading skills up to speed. It's low stress, and we try to make it fun," said Mitchell.

Mitchell moved to Sisters with his wife and two sons in 2004 after retiring from a successful career in golf. He grew up in Ohio and attended Miami University where he played on the golf team. He graduated with a BS degree in chemistry, then worked for the Pfizer Corporation for a year.

He came to realize that golf was his true calling and pursued that path. He worked as an assistant professional for seven years, during which time he became a Class A member of the Professional Golfers Association. Mitchell landed the head golf professional job at Miami Shores Golf Club in Troy, Ohio, where he worked for 20 years.

"I did a lot of teaching over the years," he said. "I taught players of all skill levels but mostly beginners and juniors."

He also started a Special Olympics golf program.

The Special Olympics golf program provides individuals with intellectual disability the opportunity to play and compete like any golfer. Once a week kids from Special Olympics throughout the county would come to the course for a free clinic and play nine holes.

His experience working with the Special Olympic kids inspired him to apply for the job at Sisters Elementary School.

"I was looking for something to do after we moved here and saw they were looking for someone to help with special needs kids," he said.

The crossing guard gig came about as part of the federal "Safe Routes School Program," which was established to assist communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school. The presence of a crossing guard reminds drivers that they are passing through a school zone, to watch for pedestrians and to slow down.

"Moving to Sisters has been a great change for us," said Mitchell. "We had vacationed in Oregon and have friends from Ohio who moved to Bend, so we were familiar with the area. At first it was tough for the boys, who were high school age, but the other students and the community were so welcoming that we all soon felt like we belonged."

While being the crossing guard is only a small part of his job, Mitchell enjoys seeing all of the people driving by and knowing that he's doing his part to help keep some of the youngest members of our town safe.