JACKSON TWP — The newest addition to Seneca Valley School District was roaming the halls of the White House just a few years ago.

Seneca Valley School Board appointed Jeffrey James, a 22-year special agent in the U.S. Secret Service, to its new Supervisor of Safety and Security position Monday night at the board meeting.

James held several high-level positions during his time serving the president, including five years on the Presidential Protective Division and as the liaison to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

“Through a friend of mine who works at Seneca Valley, I found out about the position and talked with Superintendent (Tracy) Vitale,” James said, “and that's really how the whole thing came together.”

James is trained in threat assessment and mitigation; physical security of facilities and persons; and emergency management and response planing.

James said he is looking forward to a “partnership with local law enforcement and first responders to put plans together in the event of a critical incident.”

“I also really look forward to partnering with the community at large, not just the faculty and students, to do some training and sharing as much information as I can about every aspect of security.”

James will be paid $101,000 in his 12-month contract after he leaves the Secret Service next week.

James is expected to provide more efficient safety and security measures regarding physical building assessments, staff education and training and maintenance and updates of the district's emergency management plans.

“This is a mission that I'm going to take as seriously as any mission I've had in the Secret Service,” James said. “I'm excited about this responsibility.”

Vitale called James “an incredible benefit” to Seneca Valley.

“His expertise will allow us to view security from a different lens,” Vitale said, “which will ultimately contribute to an even safer school environment.”

James earned his bachelor's degree in education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and two master's degrees in criminal justice and national security resource strategy from Hays State University and Dwight D. Eisenhower School — National Defense University, respectively.