Tomball Memorial High School CTE Student Honored After Life-Saving Emergency Response During Medical Call
For one Tomball Memorial High School student, the lessons learned in the classroom recently became a matter of life and death.
Sandy Tellez, a student in the Health Science Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway at Tomball Memorial High School in Tomball ISD, is being recognized across the region after helping save a patient’s life during a critical emergency medical call. Her quick thinking and clinical training earned her recognition at the HCA Houston Northwest “Door to OR” ceremony, a program that honors exceptional emergency response and teamwork that helps trauma patients survive life-threatening injuries.
For the Tomball community, the moment highlights more than a single act of courage. It reflects the real-world impact of career and technical education programs in Texas schools, where students gain hands-on training that prepares them for high-demand careers in healthcare, emergency response, and public service.
A Critical Moment During an Emergency Call
The incident occurred in December when Tellez was involved in an emergency response involving a patient suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Initially alive but in critical condition, the patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated during transport and the individual went into cardiac arrest. In that high-pressure moment, Tellez immediately stepped into action.
Using the training she received through Tomball ISD’s Health Science and EMT practicum programs, she provided ventilatory support and quickly transitioned to performing high-quality chest compressions, helping maintain blood flow and oxygen circulation until the ambulance arrived at the hospital.
Thanks to those efforts, trauma surgeons were able to perform life-saving surgery upon the patient’s arrival.
Moments like these represent exactly what emergency medical training prepares responders for — but experiencing it firsthand is something few students encounter so early in their careers.
Training That Begins in High School
According to Tomball Memorial High School CTE Health Science teacher Kristen Vincent Husband, Tellez’s actions reflect years of preparation through Tomball ISD’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.”
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Programs like the Health Science pathway at Tomball ISD are designed to build technical skills and medical knowledge beginning in freshman year and continuing through graduation. Students gain exposure to clinical procedures, emergency care techniques, and real-world medical scenarios while exploring careers such as nursing, emergency medicine, and allied health.
For many students, the pathway culminates in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course, where participants prepare to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification exams — both written and hands-on — before they graduate from high school.
“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.
Confidence in a High-Pressure Situation
For Tellez, the program provided more than technical training — it helped build the confidence required to act decisively in a life-threatening situation.
“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.”
Her experience underscores a key goal of career and technical education in Texas public schools: giving students the opportunity to apply classroom learning in real-world situations that benefit their communities.
A Path Toward a Career in Emergency Medicine
Tellez says the program has also helped shape her long-term goals and career path.
“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,” Tellez 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.”
She plans to continue her journey in emergency medicine after graduation, pursuing college while working as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Tellez is currently considering attending either the University of Mississippi or the University of Kentucky while continuing to build experience in the field.
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A Moment That Reflects the Purpose of CTE Programs
For educators like Husband, Tellez’s actions demonstrate the real-world importance of programs like Tomball ISD 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.”
Stories like this remind communities that the skills students develop in high school classrooms today can become the life-saving actions of tomorrow.
As Tomball ISD continues investing in health science education, EMT training, and workforce readiness programs, students like Tellez are already demonstrating how those opportunities translate into real impact far beyond campus walls.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more stories highlighting student achievements, local education initiatives, and the people helping shape the future of the Tomball community.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.