At Willowbrook Elementary in Altoona, Iowa, a group of students come together every few days in a dedicated space to meet with Officer Dixiana Walker. Unlike typical school resource officer duties, Walker’s role extends far beyond maintaining safety — she’s building bridges, breaking language barriers and creating a sense of belonging for Spanish-speaking students and their families.
Walker, an Altoona Police Department school resource officer, understands firsthand what it’s like to feel lost in a new environment.
“I was born in California, I lived in L.A., my parents are originally from El Salvador,” Walker told WeAreIowa.com. “We moved out here in Iowa when I was 8 years old; I started out in second grade and didn’t understand anything. I was that kid where they’d look at me, and they’d smile, but they had no idea what I was saying.”
Recognizing herself in the young faces of students struggling with the language transition, Walker took it upon herself to provide a much-needed resource. She leads Spanish-language discussions on law enforcement topics, including holiday safety and “stranger danger,” ensuring that these students don’t feel left out.
“So, typically, we’ll go into classrooms, and then we’ll just go over a curriculum,” Walker explained. “They’re all set in English, and so while I was teaching, I would notice some kids that were just not understanding what I was saying, and so the look they had was a look that I could relate to.”
Her goal is clear — to be the support system and role model she once longed for as a child.
“I just know the feeling of feeling alone, like you want to understand, and a lot of my students are very intelligent,” she said.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Teachers at Willowbrook Elementary praise Walker for going beyond her standard duties to build trust and relationships with students.
“She embraced it, and she is here quite often, above and beyond her regular kind of ‘Officer Friendly’ duties, and we’ve just built a partnership here,” teacher Amy Olesen said.
By creating a space where Spanish-speaking students can connect, express their culture and feel valued, Walker is instilling a newfound confidence in them. Olesen has witnessed firsthand how Walker’s presence impacts students.
“It’s really hard, day in, day out, and when Officer Walker shows up, they’re able to communicate very openly, and they’ve realized what an asset their language is because of her,” Olesen said.
The Altoona Police Department takes immense pride in the relationship they’ve built with the Southeast Polk Community School District. Officers believe that fostering these connections today will strengthen the community’s trust in law enforcement for years to come.
“I want them to be proud of their language, the culture and everything, and then be able to implement some English and just some of the American culture and some of the American foods that a lot of my students are new to,” Walker said. “It’s just been cool to be that role model, and they look forward to school and just share that moment with me during class time.”
