By CALEB REYNOLDS
The Tower

Every day, Manteca High teacher James Ward sets up his classes and schedules assignments, like many of his colleagues. With one exception: His subject differs from most other teachers.

Ward leads the public service program.

Ward is the instructor of the relatively new public service program at Manteca High and is trying to navigate setting up his program so he can reach students and share his skills and knowledge.

He has vast experience and knowledge in emergency medicine.

Before becoming a teacher, Ward was a member of the military. He served for eight years as a corpsman and combat medic in both the Navy and Marine Corp. After serving, he continued practicing emergency medicine as a paramedic and worked as one for 11 years.

As a paramedic, Ward worked locally in Stockton, San Ramon, and Amador County.

After his time as a paramedic, Ward switched to teaching about public service and emergency medicine to introduce young students to the public service field and get them involved in their communities.

Before teaching at Manteca High, he taught his program at Betech and Lathrop High.

The Tower was able to sit down with Ward to discuss the importance of his program and some of the valuable skills students can learn from it.

The Tower: Do you believe that all or most high schools should have a program like yours?

James Ward: Yes, there should be these classes or academies at high schools. My public service class sets students up for succeeding in life after high school. Public service class is a course that is designed to offer career technical education in the fields of firefighting, police, military, but mainly in emergency medical services. This class is also a character-building program that will prepare students for the challenges of becoming a young adult.

Manteca High School’s James Ward (left) instructs students on how to use equipment in his Public Service Program. (MOISES RAMOS/The Tower)

TT: What is your favorite part of your program to teach students?

JW: I like everything I teach. My favorite thing that I teach my students is professionalism and instilling positive character traits.

TT: What are some of the ways your program allows students to get involved with public service?

JW: They will observe, participate in, and have the experiences of police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and military personnel and learn how they can make a difference. The goal of the class for the student is to gain discipline, motivation, and experience teamwork while having the opportunity to gain experience, certifications, and training towards a career in public service.

TT: Has the incident with Damar Hamlin last year affected student interest in your class?

JW: I would hope so. I believe that the Damar Hamlin incident with cardiac arrest affected the world because he was a healthy young man. Basic Life Support and CPR are certifications students earn in my class along with many more. This incident showed people how valuable it is to know CPR. Hamlin wouldn’t be alive if there weren’t CPR certified medical staff there to administer CPR immediately.

TT: How important do you think it is that students who are interested in public service get involved in your program early?

JW: It is important if they really want a career in the public service sector. When they graduate high school, they have a clear path planned to help them obtain the job that they want. There are many prerequisites to work in certain public service jobs. They get some of those done while attending high school.

TT: Even if students don’t go into the public service field, what are some skills that students can learn in your class?

JW: Students learn positive values like commitment, being a team player, being responsible, being a problem solver, and being a good communicator to name a few. The students will also attain many different certificates and licenses that they can apply to other jobs outside the public service sectors.

TT: Has there ever been a student of yours that’s had to use the skills you’ve taught them?

JW: Yes, the very first time I taught a CPR course was in 2017 at Lathrop High School, Monday through Friday.  That Saturday my student was at a pool party and a young boy drowned.  As he was pulled up from the bottom of the pool, she stepped in and began CPR and revived him before the Manteca Fire Department even arrived. 

TT: How did it make you feel that your student had to use the skills you taught them?

JW: When I heard the news on TV, it was awesome.  I was proud of her. It’s very impressive that a 17-year-old teenager maintained her composure in a chaotic situation and knew what to do to save that boy’s life.  She was all over the news.  I tip my hat to her.