Teacher giving Zoom class heard a student's grandma slur her words — she instantly knew she had to save the grandma
Many teachers go above and beyond to help their students. One first-grade teacher also extended that courtesy to a student's grandmother. The teacher, Julia Koch, was busy teaching a virtual class to the students of Edgewood Elementary School. She received a call from one kid's grandmother to explain that they were having some technical difficulties during the class. As the grandmother, Cynthia Phillips, spoke, the teacher noticed that she was slurring and didn't sound like herself. Concerned about her well-being, Koch immediately alerted the principal, per CNN.
Philips called the teacher and told her that she was facing challenges while trying to charge her granddaughter's school tablet and Koch instantly knew something was off. "It was clear there was something very wrong. Her words were so jumbled and I couldn’t understand what she was trying to say. She didn’t sound like herself." To ensure that Philips was okay, Koch quickly called the school principal, Charlie Lovelady and informed him about the incident. "I noticed her speech was impaired and I asked her if she was alright and she was stumbling over her words and it was getting worse by the minute. I knew the symptoms of a stroke because I lost my father to a stroke, so I told her to hold on and immediately got her help," Lovelady recounted.
As the principal talked to the grandma over the phone, he asked one of his staff members to call 911 for her. He also asked two of his staff members to go to the woman's house and check on her and the children she was looking after at that time. Philips, who survived the stroke because of the timely help, was really thankful to the teacher. "I would have died if it weren’t for the teacher being so quick and fast about getting me help. It made me so close to the staff and the principal, even the secretary, who hurried to get me on the phone with the principal. They showed up at my house to make sure I’m OK. I thank God I didn’t die in front of my kids." The grandma was still at the hospital at that time, but she was recovering.
Both Koch and Lovelady were applauded for their quick actions and all their help in the situation. "I am immensely proud of both Ms. Koch and Mr. Lovelady, their quick actions and the energy they have poured into relationships with students and families during this new way of education are making a significant positive difference in the lives of our students and their families," Rané Garcia, Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System Superintendent, expressed. "I don’t think one can truly be a good teacher and not care about the students and their families. In the environment we’re in, especially, it’s too hard to do this without actually truly caring," Koch added.
Koch pointed out that the incident showed her the importance of a community "that truly cares." She also felt that it was important to truly listen to people and pay attention to understand how one can help them. "It’s great to know I’m part of a team like that." Lovelady was also really impressed by all the quick and efficient work his staff put in to save Philips's life. "I’m so proud of my team, it just shows that we have wonderful people here who didn’t think twice about calling for help and jumping in the car to check on them. I’m a very, very proud principal." The teacher admitted that she was happy to be there when her student needed her the most, per WOOD TV.