Features

From police officer to baker, Garrett rises to the occasion

Nethra Kumaravel and Ariya Lee

September 19, 2025

Garrett has her picture taken at the start of her 26-year-long career as a Fairfax County police officer in 1994. Photo used with permission of Lauretta Garrett.

As the school doors open at 7:45 a.m,Lauretta Garrett, a new addition to CHS’s safety and security team, stands by the OPENGATE weapon detectors, regulating the flow of student traffic into the building.

“My typical day is making sure that people who are in the cafeteria stay in the cafeteria,” Garrett said. “And I make sure that people that are going to the academy aren’t just roaming around the school.”

Garrett served as a Fairfax County police officer for 26 years. She worked at Mountain View Alternative High School for five years before coming to CHS as a security officer.

“I challenge anybody who shouldn’t be in the school, just keeping everybody safe,” she said. “But overall, I’m building relationships and trying to get people to graduate from high school so they can go on to college or do whatever they want to do.”

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Garrett shakes the hand of a sergeant as she receives the “Enlisted Marine of the Year” award for her service in 1989. Photo used with permission of Lauretta Garrett.

After high school, Garret served four years in the Marine Corps to earn enough money to go to college.

“It taught me discipline, and it taught me to be patriotic,” Garrett said. “And then, while I was in the Marine Corps, I ran, and I got a full ride scholarship to George Mason…for running track.”

At George Mason University, Garrett earned NCAA All-American status and holds the school’s Top All-Time Outdoor Performance in the 1500 Meter Run with her time of 4:17.40 from 1990. In college, Garrett further developed her interest in the safety and security field, receiving her Bachelor of Science in law enforcement and her associate’s degree in administration of justice.

Garrett gets featured as an All-American athlete in the George Mason University women’s track and field archives from 1992. Photo used with permission of Lauretta Garrett.

“I just started taking criminal justice classes, and I was like, ‘Wow this is amazing,’” Garret said.

Aside from her scheduled duties, Garrett also enjoys baking. Inspired by her mother’s baking of cinnamon rolls, Garrett shares her passion for making bread with her church and school community.

“I bake bread and bring it to the school,” Garrett said. “I make different flavors of bread, like cinnamon, banana nuts, chocolate chip, you name it. [Around the holidays] I like to do pumpkin spice or a cranberry orange. I could spend all day baking bread.”

Before joining the Marine Corps, Garrett was unsure of where she would end up. Looking back, she said if someone told her five years ago she would be at CHS, she wouldn’t have been able to imagine it.

“The journey has been wonderful and I love being here,” Garrett said. “I hope to work here for many, many years.”

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About the Contributors

Nethra Kumaravel, Staff Writer

Nethra is a sophomore at CHS and is in her first year with The Purple Tide. Outside of journalism she enjoys creating art, playing with her dog, Pluto, and going out for bike rides. Alongside her activities, Nethra is also passionate about helping others and volunteers at a local senior living home where she teaches art to seniors in her free time. If you can’t find her doing any of these things, then you might find her at any random library or bookstore, trying to find another book to read. Nethra is excited to work as a staff writer and write stories at The Purple Tide.

Ariya Lee, News Editor

Ariya is a junior in her second year with The Purple Tide. Other than journalism, she is interested in climate policy and enjoys reading and traveling. She is a member of Chantilly’s girls swim team, Students for Environmental Advocacy club and Writing Center. She is excited to write for The Purple Tide as the News Editor this year!