Bethel High seniors describe law and public safety training, certifications and mentors on HCS Talks
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Summary
On HCS Talks, Superintendent Raymond Haynes interviewed Bethel High seniors Ava Tanner and Sean Battle about the Academy of Law and Public Safety. Students described dual-enrollment paralegal coursework (VPCC), mock trials, national EMT and firefighter certifications, volunteer firefighting at Station 6 Northampton, mentorship and post-graduation plans.
Superintendent Raymond Haynes interviewed Bethel High seniors Ava Tanner and Sean Battle on an episode of HCS Talks that highlighted the district’s Academy of Law and Public Safety and the hands-on experiences the program provides.
Haynes introduced the students as Bethel High School seniors and members of the academy, and both students described practical classroom and field experiences that informed their career plans. “I am in the Academy of Law and Public Safety in the Law and Legal Studies pathway,” Ava Tanner said, describing mock trials, visits to juvenile district court and seminars with the Commonwealth’s attorney and paralegals that supported her interest in law. Tanner said communication was the program’s most important skill: “Communication was the biggest skill that I’ve learned, and learning how to communicate civilly in a concise manner,” she said.
Sean Battle described the fire and emergency services pathway and his on-the-job learning as a volunteer firefighter at Station 6 Northampton. “I am nationally certified as EMT, and I also am nationally certified for my firefighter 1 and 2,” Battle said, and he described responding to real calls and completing multi-month certification courses. Battle also serves as Bethel’s senior class president and the JROTC battalion commander.
The students described additional program features: a dual-enrollment paralegal certificate program offered through VPCC that allows juniors to earn a paralegal certificate and begin working in law firms after graduation, and mock trials that require students to build cases from media-based scenarios. They credited teacher-mentors for practical guidance: Tanner repeatedly praised Miss Pate, a teacher with 30 years of legal experience, while Battle credited George Barker and Dr. Howard for mentorship.
On next steps, Battle said he plans to join the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and pursue trades and firefighting work; Tanner said she currently holds a full scholarship to the University of Virginia and is waitlisted at Columbia and remains undecided about final college plans, but intends to attend undergraduate school and pursue law school afterward. Haynes closed by highlighting the district’s portrait of a Hampton graduate—leadership, commitment and collaboration—and reminding listeners that new HCS Talks episodes drop on Thursdays.
The students’ descriptions provide specific details about certifications, dual-enrollment options and mentorship that reporters or officials may confirm if additional reporting is required.
