Hero In The Classroom: Beulah Middle Teacher Saves Life Of Choking Student

August 26, 2022

A Beulah Middle School teacher is being called a hero after she saved one of her students that was choking on a piece of candy Thursday.

Agriculture teacher Leanne Jenkins said she just did what anyone else would have done.

“A precious little girl in my class went to answer a question I had asked, and she swallowed a piece of candy that was in her mouth,” said Jenkins, who was the 2022 Florida FFA Teacher of the Year. ”I immediately could tell she was in trouble. She grabbed her neck, and I knew then that she couldn’t breathe. I started the Heimlich and we got it unlodged pretty quickly.”

Jenkins said she and the entire class were shaken by the incident, but her Beulah Middle students were simply amazing.

“They were quiet, supportive, and someone immediately ran for help.” The student who choked was whisked away by the school nurse and is doing fine.

Jenkins and her husband took a CPR class about a decade ago when they were house parents at a children’s home. She didn’t think she could ever remember the information from the course, but it all came flooding back Thursday.

“I am thankful that the Lord had me right where I needed to be at that moment,” she said.

Pictured above: Beulah Middle School’s Leanne Jenkins was named Florida’s 2022 FFA Advisor of the Year last June at the state FFA convention in Orlando. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

13 Responses to “Hero In The Classroom: Beulah Middle Teacher Saves Life Of Choking Student”

  1. Sharla Garcia on August 31st, 2022 11:24 am

    Praise the Lord Jesus you were indeed where you were supposed to be! Awesome job!

  2. Alexis Bolin on August 27th, 2022 10:11 pm

    You are an amazing teacher. The school district is lucky to have you. Teachers need to be paid more money and respected more by Parents and students.

  3. MargieLu on August 26th, 2022 7:58 pm

    Lord bless you for helping this student! As the grandparent of one child at Beulah Middle (soon to be two students there next year) it is a relief and a comfort to know there are well-prepared teachers who will rush to help a student in need, and fellow students who know to get help from faculty and staff. Great job, Mrs. Jenkins!

  4. Bonnie Exner on August 26th, 2022 1:36 pm

    Way to go, Leanne..you were at the right place at the right time..all people need to know the Heimlick maneuver to be able to help others with choking…continue to make a positive difference in your students’ lives

  5. Zachary Daiquiri on August 26th, 2022 1:17 pm

    I’m not surprised, Mrs. Jenkins is not only a wonderful teacher, but a great person and friend too. She taught Agriculture at my high school for a year or two, she always was involved, always willing to help, just a great person in general.

  6. Cindy Wine on August 26th, 2022 1:01 pm

    I always knew this sweet lady was a Super Hero in disguise. Thankful to have teachers like you.

  7. Jeb on August 26th, 2022 12:41 pm

    Our community is a better place because of people like you. This is not the first awesome story that I’ve read about you in the news and I doubt it will be the last. As Mr. O Rear said previously….you rock!

  8. SueB on August 26th, 2022 10:09 am

    KUDOS to L. Jenkins saving a child. KUDOS to the kids in the classroom & the one kid that ran for help. Life saving techniques in all matters need to be taught to all school age children.

  9. JTV on August 26th, 2022 9:34 am

    Thank you

  10. Jcellops on August 26th, 2022 9:28 am

    Devine intervention! Now, the classmates also have some REAL familiarity of how to respond if they happen upon a similar situation when they’re out and about. God knows, things happen for a reason. I love a happy ending- good job!!

  11. Rick on August 26th, 2022 9:12 am

    Thank god for your fast action. So glad little girl doing good.

  12. Bill T on August 26th, 2022 8:04 am

    Amazing !!!! How our almighty god choose you to save this little girls life !!!! GOD bless you and all your beautiful talent for you are truly special!!!! I say to you thank you

  13. Louis O’Rear on August 26th, 2022 6:41 am

    Leanne, you rock! Great job!