By Sherri Blevins
Joshua Carstarphen, Logan Pruitt, Tyler Brackett, Kylee Ewing, Madison Gregory, and Kylee Garrett are six of the nine juniors and seniors involved in DeKalb County’s first collaborative educational program between the City of Rainsville and the DeKalb County Board of Education. Mountain Valley News (MVN) visited the classroom to see these students in action.
What makes this program unique to the county and Northeast Alabama is that it takes place not in a regular classroom nor at the Career Tech Center the department the class stems from, but class is in session at the Rainsville Fire Department.
Fireman Jason Bannon assisted by Chief Williams instruct the students in this innovative program that prepares students to become fire-fighters or emergency responders. Students who successfully complete the two- year Fire Science Program are eligible to receive their Volunteer Fire Fighters Certificate upon turning eighteen. During the first year of the program, students attend Firemanship I and II, Public Safety Telecommunication (Emergency Dispatch), Hazardous Materials Operations and Awareness, and Emergency Medical Responder training. These classes are basics for Fire School. The students receive more advanced training their senior year. Students who are interested in all areas of the emergency responder field, not just those interested in fire- fighting, benefit from the program. The second year of the program will provide many hours of hands on training with students actually working with the necessary emergency equipment.
When the students were asked what peaked their interest in participating in this program, two main reasons rose to the surface. Each one conveyed they wanted a career in the emergency responder field. Ewing, Gregory, and Garrett all want to pursue careers as paramedics. Carstarphen has a goal of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) while Pruitt and Brackett both desire careers in fire- fighting. This program is laying a solid foundation for their career paths.
When Bannon was asked by MVN what he has enjoyed most about this new teaching adventure, he responded as follows. “I guess it really helps me to refresh myself and to learn something more in depth and understand- I’ve taught adults fire safety for years, but it’s a different twist talking to folks who this is the first time they have ever been introduced to the program, so having to break it down into a level they understand has been very interesting to me.”
Bannon went on to say, “If students ever want to serve as volunteer fire-fighters, without the program they will have to spend at minimal 184 hours in training. Once they have a job and family responsibilities, it’s hard to spend four to six months away from home for training. By finishing the two-year program, students will already have earned their certification when they turn 18. Then they can serve their community if they choose as volunteer fire-fighters.”
Johnathan Phillips, DeKalb County Schools Career Tech Director, commented on the new program. He stated, “I think it is wonderful. It is a great example of collaboration between city government and public education. It is something that both state and national officials are pushing. I think it is great we are taking a lead in the state. We have been contacted by the Alabama State Department and commended for this partnership. We have also been asked to speak at a National Career Tech Conference in July.”
Chief Williams, Rainsville’s Fire Chief, also commented on his thoughts about the program and how it has impacted the daily workings of the fire station. He added, “It really hasn’t affected the day to day working of the fire station. It has really been a positive thing. The students are able to get hands on experience with the equipment. Teaching is fun and interesting. We have nine students so far. Our goal is to have thirty sometime in the future.” He went on to say, “There are probably ten or twelve other programs in the state similar to this one. We have visited them to see what works and what doesn’t to make our program the best it can be.”