Ansonia Students Stay in Shape and Out of Trouble

Some students at Ansonia High School roll out of bed at the crack of dawn for an intense workout with the school resource officer, who designed this program to help keep kids out of trouble.

"I thought the best way to do it was to get them up early in the morning," Officer Michael Barry explained.

Barry said that when he first started working at the school six years ago, he spent most of the day disciplining students, many of whom could ultimately face charges.

"It's a diversion from the court system, but most of these kids that we see here are all volunteers," Barry said.

Although some students have been mandated to attend the program, many have just come to enjoy working out and the benefits of being in shape.

"Those students who go to the program in lieu of a suspension or detention oftentimes will continue on with the program even after their time frame is up," said Ansonia High School Principal Joseph Dobbins.

The program, now five years old, won Barry the Phipps Award of Excellence in 2012, the Ansonia Police Department's top honor.

But the biggest honor of all for Barry is making a difference in the lives of his students.

"He's an awesome dude. He's like a father figure, somebody to look up to," said high school senior Nytwan Brown.

Contact Us