Making Wise Choices with Mrs. Krizik
by Amber Olbrot
Choices that we make today can affect our future. Mrs. Krizik of Law Enforcement teaches her students to "Make wise choices. Pretend your choices could be on the front of the newspaper for the whole world to see."
Mrs. Krizik went to Momence High School and graduated in 1968 in hopes of helping people throughout her future. Following high school, Mrs. Krizik went to Kankakee Community College for two years earning her Associates Degree. She then transferred to Calumet College in Whiting, Indiana (an offshoot of St. Joseph's College) where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Law Enforcement Management.
One might assume Mrs. Krizik started working in law enforcement after all her education was finished, but no, not Mrs. Krizik ~ She finished her bachelors degree while working for the Sheriff's department and KACC, and raising two children. So much energy!
When asked why she chose law enforcement (it's not your normal job for a woman), Mrs. Krizik shared the story of her mother. Mrs. Krizik's mother set the example as a non-traditional working woman. She was the eldest child of 10 who entered the workforce in a factory following 8th grade. Years later, her mother found herself raising three children on her own working hard and saving enough to open her own business. She was an excellent example of being able to balance hard work while raising her children. As a child, Mrs. Krizik lived across from the Police Chief. She said she admired how much he helped the people in her town. She has always been such a helpful person. Between her mother's example and her desire to help people, Mrs. Krizik was motivated to be a police officer.
Mrs. Krizik's first job in law enforcement was in 1975, when the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department was in need of a helping hand. Mrs. Krizik was a both a correctionak officer and a dispatcher for 7 years. Although she enjoyed her work, she wanted to be more involved and have more of a challenge. Mrs. Krizik took the necessary steps and tests and became a patrolwoman.
If 25 years as a patrol woman tells me anything, it tells me she must have loved her job and was very good at it!. Like fellow officers, Mrs. Krizik did much more than patrol street. Mrs. Krizik was also a detective for the department as well as part of the D.A.R.E program designed to teach kids to say away from drugs and alcohol. The D.A.R.E. program offered Mrs. Krizik a chance to work with children in many of the schools throughout Kankakee County. If all these facets of law enforcement were not enough, Mrs. Krizik found time to work as a part-time teacher's assistant here at KACC four years ago. Mrs. Krizik took over the class following Mr. Sandusky's retirement in 2006. Mrs. Krizik had no reservations accepting the position here at KACC.
As Law Enforcement teacher, Mrs. Krizik does a great deal with her class. Her program is over the course of two years, alternating between teaching her students about traffic patrol and the various aspects of a patrol person's duties, with the alternate year focusing on investigations.In the classroom, students participate in hands on labs, like fingerprinting, lifting prints, and learning how to properly handcuff people in different situations. Students in Mrs. Krizik's class are exposed to a wide variety of topics, allowing the students to really know about the field and be prepared to continue their education in Law Enforcement. They certainly have a leg up on the competition following high school!
When compared to the other classes KACC offers, Law Enforcement has the most guest speakers and presenters come to visit the students. Mrs. Krizik believes this is the best way to allow students to see and learn about the variety of different ways her students can go on to help people around our world. A quick list of examples are:
- Teen Court - Mock Trial
- Military Personnel Presentations
- Disaster Drill
- Police Officer Visits
- Tour of County Jail
- Coroner Speaker and Tour of Coroner's office
- County Courthouse
- All Local Police Departments
Sometimes it's hard to find what our true purpose in life is. Wasting time and not showing a sense of commitment sends a twinge up Mrs. Krizik's spine. That is why her biggest pet peeve is when students don't dedicate themselves in her classroom.
Mrs. Krizik's greatest delight is when she sees her students get excited about learning and building off of her teachings~~ seeing her students help others learn shows a sense of teamwork and accomplishment. Mrs. Krizik says, "I can see the next generation of law enforcement professionals in my classroom."
