About NIA DPS

About NIA DPS

The safety of our students, staff, and guests is a primary concern of the Newman International Academy (NIA) stakeholders and the NIA Board of Trustees. The greater NIA community experiences the benefits and challenges that all school districts experience when located within major a metropolitan area. NIA is not immune from crime and is still responsible to create a safe educational environment. To that end, the Newman International Academy Department of Public Safety (NIA DPS) was established in January of 2022 under the leadership of Dr. Sheba George, the NIA superintendent. Dr. George appointed Chief Matthew Antkowiak, CPP, PCI, PSP, the Director of Public Safety. The focused of the NIA DPS is to provide emergency management, security, and law enforcement services to the school district and the greater NIA community.

NIA DPS filed for and was granted a Government Letter of Authority by the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau (TX DPS PSB) to establish a commissioned security department. NIA DPS filed for the establishment of a school district police agency with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). With the establishment of a school district police and security department, the safety of our students, staff, and guests will be greatly improved. The NIA DPS is a full-service law enforcement agency, with full policing authority, serving the law enforcement needs of the school district. Furthermore, with the establishment of a school district police agency, there will be a more uniformed approach to school-based law enforcement district-wide. NIA DPS commissioned and sworn personnel have jurisdiction over all school functions, students, facilities, and campuses within the State of Texas. All NIA DPS commissioned and sworn personnel report to Chief Matthew Antkowiak, the NIA Director of Public Safety.


General NIA School District Information

Newman International Academy (NIA) is a publicly funded charter school district located in heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. For the past 10 years, NIA has provided primary educational services to students as a governmental subdivision of the State of Texas and is governed under the Texas Education Agency (TEA), codified by the Texas Education Code. NIA provides primary education to grades Pre-K3 to 12th. Our charter allows for 7 campuses, 1 site, and 6,000 students. Current NIA has approximately 3,100 students enrolled in seven campuses. NIA has 3 high schools, 3 middle schools, and 4 elementary schools. NIA resides within Tarrant and Dallas Counites and specifically within the municipalities of Arlington, Cedar Hill, Mansfield, and Fort Worth. NIA both owns and leases school campuses and facilities.