Ritenour School District leaders publicly recognized two staff members and a YMCA program director for life-saving actions after a medical emergency at Kratz Elementary on Nov. 20.

Superintendent and school leaders called forward Armez Coulter, a district supervisor, and Mark Packet, program director with the Mid-County Family YMCA, to explain how they assisted an employee identified in meeting remarks as "Reggie." According to the superintendent, Reggie lost consciousness and stopped breathing during a fourth-grade program. Board members credited immediate CPR followed by the effective use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) for restoring breathing before an ambulance transported Reggie to a hospital.

"I would do it for any person in the room," Coulter told staff and board members, describing acting without overthinking in the moment and doing "whatever I thought to try." Packet praised the teamwork: "Things were getting accomplished at the same time in two different directions…the emergency call and the immediate application of CPR, and then allowing to get the AED and have that go." Board members presented each with a memento and asked the room to give them a standing ovation.

The superintendent noted AEDs are available in all district buildings and commended staff for following training. The board emphasized the positive outcome: the employee was transported by ambulance and was reported to be recovering. The recognition occurred during the superintendent's report and was described to the board as an example of staff preparedness and interagency cooperation.