but montgomery county officer katie beard is especially vested in that office part.beard has done a lot of good work during her 1n years o the force. perhaps though none as rewarding as her current assignment. her dedication to her community is why one of her neighbors nominated her to be this week's "harris' hero." >> reporter: you could be looking at the next generation of montgomery county police officers here in this classroom. >> what do we use handcuffs for? to put the - to put on the bad guys, right? >> reporter: what officer katie beard really cares about is that these kids know they ve a friend who's a police officer. >> especially later in life when the kids start to go to really get into the peer pressure, they know that they have that one person that was alwayshere for them. >> reporter: this visit at drew elementary school is just one of three community events that ofpacer beard will particite in. heredication to the community is why michelle james nominated her to be a hero. >> her whole day is filled with this, but she's really a blessing to montgomery

>> reporter: what katie beard dares about is these kids know they have a friho is a police officer. >especially later in life, when the kids start to go through adolescence and get into the peer pressure, they know th they have that one person that was always there for them. >> reporter: this visit at drew elementaool is just one of three community events that officer beard will participate in today. her dedication is why michelle james nominated her to be a hero. >> her whole day is filled with this, she's a blessing to montgory county. >> reporter: it is her job, but officer beard goes above and beyond to make herself available. >> she'llnswer anybody's question anytime. >> reporter: she wants to drive ise that montgomery county her home too. >> i go to swim practice, just like you have lacrosse withour kids. and i try to get that human o elemen there too, and i think that helps a lot with building relationships. >> reporter: cheesecake with a cop, meeting with seniors,co ecting baby supplies for teen moms, for more than 19 years, officer beard has been finding those kinds of creati

but what officer katie beard reallybo cares is that these kids have a friendho is a police officer. >> especially later in life when they start to go through adolescence and get into the peer pressure, they know they have that one person that was alwaysre for them. >> this visit at drew elementary school is just onef ree community events that officer beard will participate in today. her dedication to the community is why michelle james nominated her t >> her whole day is filled with this, but she's really a to montgomery county. >> yes, it's her job, but officer beard goes above and beyond to make herself available. >> she'll answe anybody's question anytime. >> she always wants to drive home that montgomercounty is her home too. >> i go to swim practice just like you haveh lacrosse w your kids. and i try to get that human element out there, too, and i hink that helps a lot with building relationships. >> she's meeting with seniors, collecting baby supplies for teen moms. fomore than na19 years, officer beard has been finding creative ways to engage with the communit >> it's important

officer katie beard is in vested in the serve part. her dedication to her community is why one of her neighbors nominated her to be this week's harris' hero. >> her wle day is filled with this but she's a blessing to montgomery county. so i just felt she should be recognized for all of the work that she does. >> you won't want to miss this story, coming u on tonight's harris' heroes tonight on news4 at 4:00. >>> in recent years schools have made aush to inspire young women to get inspired in technology. now four fairfax countyol middl scs are doing that movement proud. aimee cho explains. >> reporter: spend even just a second with these seventhyo graders a too, will likely smile as much as they do. >> they're getting interviewed. asoriiet.ad g >> f rrientedsep sinceorhe four, and now best student robot builders in the state of virginia. >> i love science. ng things researc and coming up with solutions to problems that are real world problems. >> reporter: the girls have spent all year building a robot out of legos and writing a researc

officer katy beard is especially invested in the serve part. dedication to her comnity is why one of her neighborser nominatedo be this week's "harris' hero." >> her whole day is filled with this, but she's really a blessing to montgomercounty. so i felt she should be draz for all the great wor that she does. >> you won't want to miss this story coming up on tonight' "harris' heroes" at 4:00. >>> 6:40. six alexandria public hools have received amazon grants for s.t.e.m. >> as you know, the company is moving itsua second headqers to crystal citynd saysit's committed to investing in the community. he schools were awarded a $10,000 grant and other helpful tools in the tech field. our cameras visited cora kelly elementary schl to see how the money is inspiring the next generation of engineers. .>> the s.t.e lab gives students the opportunity to create, communicate. we're working hard to create a pipeline for our students and n the high five tech fields. >> students from the t.c. robotic team came to spend time with elementary school students to tea

officer katy beard isec esplly invested in the serve part.edication to herhyommunity is one of her neighbors nominated her to be this week's "harris'hero." >> her whole day is filled with this, but she'seally a blessing to montgomery county. just felt she should be recognized for all the great work that she does. >> you won't want to miss this story coming up on tonight's news4 i' heroes" on "new news the if the at 4:00 -- "news4" at 4:00. >>> 26-year-o baltimore officer is known as saint the rapping cop on instagram. ♪ when joshua jackson is not rapping, he patrols thetreets of baltimore. nbc's craig melvin talked with him and asking how he's changing the imagdeof the police rtment. >> i have kids now who walk up to me that last week were running from the police. apw he's walking up saying, hey, you're the guy who how you do this, how you do that? then the rap conversation turns into, hey, man, how's your life? then every time we run into each other, it's, oh, man, that's a good -- good cop right there. >> wow. jackson is from anne arundel c

. >>> montgomery county police officer katy beard has done a lot of goo work during her 19 years on the force, but perhaps none as rewarding as her current assignment. we expect police to protect and serve our communities right. i officer beard especially invested in the serve part. her dedication t c hermunity is why one of her neighbors nominated her to be this week's hero.s' >> her whole day is filled with this, but she is really a blessing to montgomery county. so i just felthe should be recognized for all the great work that she does. >> you won't wan to miss this story coming up on tonight's "harris' heroes" at 4:00. >>> anooler marylande officer is making a difference one lyric at a time. >> a 26-year-oldofaltimore cer is known as saint the rappy cop -- the rapping cop on instagram. ♪ >> now when joshua jackson is not rapping in the recording h studio patrols the streets of baltimore. nbc's craig melvin him and asked how he's changing the image of the police department. >> iave kids now who walk up to me that last week were running from the police. now he's wsaking up ng, hey, yo