Feel Good Story: Tomball ISD CTE Student’s Training Helps Save a Life, Earns Regional Recognition

Feel Good Story: Tomball ISD CTE Student’s Training Helps Save a Life, Earns Regional Recognition

From classroom simulations to real-life emergencies, Tomball ISD CTE student Sandy Tellez is proving the power of career and technical education through life-saving action and career readiness.

Tellez, a student in the Health Science pathway at Tomball Memorial High School, was recently recognized at the HCA Houston Northwest “Door to OR” ceremony after demonstrating exceptional clinical skill and composure during a critical emergency medical call in December involving a patient with multiple gunshot wounds. Watch the ceremony.

The patient, who was initially alive but in critical condition, later went into cardiac arrest during transport. Tellez immediately provided ventilatory support and transitioned seamlessly to performing high-quality chest compressions, helping maintain the patient’s perfusion until arrival at the hospital, where trauma surgeons were able to perform life-saving surgery.

According to TMHS CTE Health Science teacher Kristen Vincent Husband, Tellez’s performance reflects the strong foundation built through the district’s career pathway programs.

“Sandy is kind, courageous, and competent,” Husband said. “She has been in the Health Science pathway since her freshman year, allowing her to obtain a broad education as well as opportunities to understand the health field. Her skills training and certifications in clinicals and EMT practicum made it possible for her to perform CPR well and help save a life.”

The Health Science pathway is designed to prepare students for real-world healthcare careers by building knowledge and technical skills from freshman year through senior year. The EMT course specifically prepares students to complete the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician exams — both written and hands-on — and earn EMT certification before graduation.

“The Health Science pathway exposes students to the skills necessary to be great healthcare providers from their first year to their senior year,” Husband said.

Tellez said the program helped build both her technical ability and confidence in high-pressure situations.

“Being in the CTE program since freshman year helped me prepare for the future because they taught me discipline and helped me learn the skills I needed in order to save the man’s life,” Tellez said. “My CPR skills came in handy the most. When this guy went into cardiac arrest, I knew what to do to help save him.”

Tellez also credited the program with helping shape her career goals and preparation for life after high school.

“The CTE program helped shape my confidence and readiness by pushing us to be our best and helping us get to where we want to be,” she said. “It also helped prepare me for life after high school by teaching basic life skills and preparing us for our future careers based on our pathway.”

For Husband, moments like this reinforce the importance of career and technical education.

“It shows that Sandy is ready to be an EMT and face the many challenges that come with working in that profession,” Husband said. “She performed wonderfully in a stressful, physically taxing, and emotional emergency. I am proud of her for reacting perfectly in her first ‘crazy’ situation and getting an amazing outcome. That’s something every medic hopes they can do.”

Tellez plans to continue pursuing her career in emergency medicine while attending college, with plans to attend either the University of Mississippi or the University of Kentucky while working as an EMT.