The staff at Hopkins Elementary School might have been under some stress last week when a bomb scare flustered school employees and students.

That false alarm, however, did not stop two school employees from jumping into real action when a truly dangerous situation arose.

Hopkins staff member Nechelle Pennington and special education worker Marla Walet saw employee Dale Lewis in distress and with a moment’s notice took action. The duo’s actions, which were said to be life-saving, were recognized during an Iberia Parish School Board meeting this week.

Advertisement

“We talk about teamwork every day. We drill it into our students,” Pennington told Iberia Parish School Board members Wednesday. “I’m thankful that God gave me the instincts, once I walked into the room, to know it was going to take a team.”

Acting as a team, with one teacher providing relief for the other, Walet and Pennington continued CPR on Lewis, who was suffering some form of attack, until paramedics arrived. Walet initiated the procedure but was tiring when Pennington came in and took her place, allowing her to rest.

The duo’s presence was lucky due to the fact Walet, who works as a itinerant reading interventionist, does not work at Hopkins Elementary School every day and was fortunate to be on assignment at the elementary school Aug. 25.

“These are rare moments we don’t often get to see,” Superintendent Dale Henderson said.

Reactions like Pennington and Walet can never be expected. Although training can be done for countless hours, it is never truly known how someone will react when faced with a real emergency.

Pennington and Walet showed they are prepared to take action.

Their commitment to their job and fellow man is something that should be comforting for the Hopkins Elementary School family and the greater Teche Area.

STEPHEN HEMELT

CITY EDITOR