AS STACY Johnson stands before students in his classes, he sees the earliest sparks of a desire to find their place among those who help us when we’re not able to help ourselves. As future emergency medical technicians (EMTs), first responders, and health care workers, they will come when someone frantically dials 911, be at our hospital bedsides when we need care, or assist in our doctor’s offices. They will attend to us onboard emergency helicopter transportation, draw our labs, and oversee imaging orders. Some will become our physicians, physicians’ assistants, and nurse practitioners.
Looking at his students, Johnson doesn’t just see our future; he sees his past.
In 1985, Johnson and his classmates walked into their unknown futures from the Lincoln County High School (LCHS) halls in their caps and gowns. His next chapter included Middle Tennessee State University classes and another graduation ceremony. This time, he earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science/ag education with minors in secondary education and general science. He circled back home to LCHS in 1989, taking his seat at the front of the class teaching ag science. Disappointingly, a decrease in the student load left him facing the reality of the financial stability of a part-time teaching position. Staying wasn’t an option. It was time to leave home again.
“Fortunately, my interest in pre-hospital emergency medicine had been sparked during my interim at LCHS, and I chose to take night classes and obtain my EMT licensure. I began working on ground ambulances in my time off from school. As fate would have it, the ambulance service I was working for was putting on an extra shift and needed full-time employees, so that’s just being at the right time at the right place,” Johnson shared.
He took the job on the extra shift and soon enrolled in paramedic school, graduating in 1993. While working in the ground emergency medical services (EMS), he returned to teaching, this time as an adjunct instructor in the EMS program at Motlow State Community College, where he later became the paramedic program director.
From teaching and ground EMS service, Johnson’s career took an upward turn in 1999 when he accepted a position as a flight paramedic for Huntsville MedFlight. He flew with the company for 20 years.
ground and air ambulance services prepared him for more than he could see.
Even more experience followed when Johnson decided to go to nursing school. He graduated as a registered nurse (RN) in 2015 and continued to fly with Huntsville MedFlight, this time as an RN/paramedic. He added time as an RN/paramedic in Huntsville Hospital and Lincoln Medical Center’s emergency rooms.
Johnson holds degrees from the University of Alabama Huntsville School of Primary Medical Care (paramedic) and Calhoun Community College (Associate of Applied Science in nursing and emergency medical services).
Each new career experience brought him one step closer to full circle.
“In 2023, the job opened at LCHS to work in the health sciences part of the CTE (career and technical education) department. I was fortunate enough to be hired back at LCHS to teach EMT, first responder, and medical therapeutics. I’m also going to be a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes here at LCHS. You might say, I’m right back where it all began — with my Falcon family.”
While the first responder and EMT courses are new to the LCHS CTE program, Johnson’s familiarity with the material is not. As an experienced instructor and EMS professional, he brings a firsthand perspective to emergency response.
He said, “I’m able to place reality into the scenarios and practice of medicine. It’s one thing to read a book, watch a video, and memorize check-offs, but education moves to another level when the instructor has real-life experiences to weave into the instruction. The same can be said of all the CTE instructors here at LCHS.”
He continued, “Having worked in a ground ambulance, on a flying ambulance, in a critical access ER, and in a Level 1 ER has given me the opportunity to see patient care from all the aspects that an emergency services provider will experience. If one of those components had not been experienced, then my education would have been lacking. Each job is just a part of the big picture, and working in them helps the provider understand what it takes to help see our patients have the best chance at survival.”
The new program and Johnson’s instruction follow state standards from the Department of Education and the Department of EMS. This program benefits students and the local medical field.
“The new first responder and EMT courses are a vision come true for the Lincoln County Department of Education and LCHS. Our goal is to produce a job-ready member of society, and successful completion of either of the courses will do just that for the student learner,” Johnson explained. “We are working closely with Motlow State and Lincoln Medical Center to produce a licensed medical professional upon graduation. The medical field has been hit hard the last few years, and we hope to do our part to help provide entry-level medical professionals into the community.”
Johnson sees the program’s future as extremely bright, with expectations of steady growth. While growth is a challenge, Johnson is confident that everyone involved will rise to meet it, ensuring its positive impact on the students and community it serves for many years to come.
His view on the program’s future is as bright as the spark in his students’ eyes. As the spark of desire grows to a flame of reality, he sees the power of believing you can do anything you want. He sees our future heroes.
“To me, a hero is not who you are; it’s what you are. You’re blessed with a skill. Use that skill to bless someone else, and then you are a hero.”
Johnson may not see it, but he’s our hero, too. GN