Former officer advocates for student safety through nonprofit

Marialexa Sanoja, a former police officer for Kansas City, Kansas, has resigned to advocate for student safety. Concerned about how the school district handles safety issues, she decided to create a nonprofit organization called Misión Despegue, which means "mission takeoff." During her short time at Wyandotte High School, Sanoja filed 140 incident reports. She claims the district ignored many of these reports. The school district disputes her claims and says they have handled issues responsibly. Sanoja has stated that she feels students should not have to rely on police officers for safety. After leaving her job, Sanoja aims to support parents and students in addressing their concerns with the school. She has seen firsthand how many Latino families, who make up a large portion of the school, hesitate to voice complaints due to fear. Sanoja wants to empower these families and help them reach their goals, such as getting GEDs and mental health support. Sanoja’s resignation was partly motivated by the district's response to a case of sexual assault involving a student. She claims that despite evidence, the district did not take appropriate action against the students involved. The school district has not commented directly on this incident but maintains that it follows proper procedures. Sanoja believes that the problems at Wyandotte High School stem from a deep cultural issue within the district. She has also observed a concerning graduation rate at the school, which is significantly lower than the state average. Through her nonprofit, Sanoja helps students transition out of the school system, especially those who have faced trauma. She covers costs for mental health services and other support, relying on donations and volunteers. Sanoja is passionate about helping students succeed and plans to continue her work without pay, driven by the belief that every child deserves an opportunity to thrive.