As he begins his tenure at the high school, security guard Vince Manzo is approaching his duties with a structured approach to ensure all protocols are followed.
After joining the security guard team at the high school on February 26, Manzo is adjusting to his position and his responsibilities.
“I make it a point to make sure those things are done,” Manzo said. “A lot of them are locking doors and making sure different things aren’t going on that shouldn’t be.”
As a retired Philadelphia police officer, Manzo “held different positions and different locations throughout the city [in] high crime areas. I was also a motorcycle officer.”
Since Manzo’s prior job skills align with Souderton’s hiring requirements, he is eager to embrace the more relaxed approach.
“I feel as though it’s a different climate than I was involved with for so many years,” Manzo said.
Principal Sam Varano is happy to welcome Manzo to the high school’s staff.
Varano believes that the high school’s current security team, which now includes Manzo, will ensure that “[we]have an orderly and secure school, positive climate, and that we’re able to react well to crises that may emerge.”
Being “well qualified,” according to Varano, he believes that Manzo will take a proactive approach to the school.
“He’s been forming positive relationships with students. [Manzo’s] job is just to supervise and interact,” Varano said.
Security guard Coach White describes Manzo as a “friendly being.”
Both White and Manzo work at the front desk during sporting events.
“[This means we] transition from working with the children inside the building and [then] having to deal with the parents and the public,” White said.
White hopes to make Manzo’s transition smooth by helping Manzo “get good reps” regarding students and situations.
School police officer Patrick Diehl has also noticed that Manzo has been adapting to the school environment.
“He was willing to get to know kids and help them in any way they can,” Diehl said. “He knows how to talk with people. He’s very good at communicating,” Diehl said.
Diehl feels that for a security guard, interacting with people and making connections are extremely beneficial to the job. “The best thing a security guard can do is create communication between students and staff,” Diehl said.
Sophomore Samantha Rios-Gonzalez has already interacted with Manzo.
“He is very friendly and has an engaging attitude towards the school,” Rios-Gonzalez said.
For White, he feels the addition of Manzo has made a noticeable difference in daily security.
“That’s another set of eyes,” White said. “It’s another set of boots that are in the hallway and making sure we’re doing things we’re supposed to be doing.”