Life-Saving Actions with “Courage, Skill, and Compassion”: A.L. Stanback Middle School Recognitions

“On June 5th, the quick thinking, teamwork, and preparedness of our staff saved the life of a 14-year-old student who collapsed unexpectedly in his school gymnasium.”

With those words, OCS Lead Nurse Sylvia Compton described for the Orange County Board of Education how A.L. Stanback Middle School staff made all the difference for David Gonzalez Rubio and his family, thanks to their swift and coordinated response. 

In light of their actions, and the heroic courage of student David Gonzalez Rubio and his family, staff and first responders who helped save a student’s life were recognized at the Monday, September 22 meeting of the Board of Education, after a similar gathering during the Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting the week prior. 

With permission from David’s family, health professionals described the episode and joined in praising the teachers, nurses, support staff, school resource officer, and administrators who acted with exemplary professionalism and commitment to save a young life.

In under four minutes, staff administered CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), applied an AED (automated external defibrillator), continued CPR, and helped David regain consciousness before emergency responders arrived. Others kept the scene safe and students calm. 
 

Nurse Compton explained: “The coordinated, decisive actions of this team allowed a life-saving defibrillation to be delivered at exactly the right moment. This extraordinary response shows how every link in the chain of survival matters—and how training, preparation, and courage can mean the difference between life and death.”

As Orange County Emergency Services described to the Board of County Commissioners: “The quick actions of early hands on the chest (CPR) and the administration of the AED were instrumental in restoring a heartbeat and saving David’s life. County staff are able to report that David has made a full recovery and has endured important surgeries to prolong and improve his life. The actions of the school staff have provided his family with the most precious gift.”
 

Staff involved in the response included (at A.L. Stanback, unless otherwise noted): PE teachers John Capps and Stacy Noren, school nurses Chelsea Rhodenhiser and Elizabeth Webb (New Hope Elementary),  school resource officer Jurmarr Tolber, teachers Bethany Turner, Joseph Sharp, Pamela Ayala, and Jose Hidalgo, counselor Sherry McKinney, and assistant principals Wyn Payton and Heather Witherspoon.

David has since had multiple surgeries and continues to receive support from OCS staff. Assisted by an interpreter, David’s parents thanked all the staff and told the Board of Education they hope that every family can experience the same expert care in a crisis, saying: 

“We are very thankful for all the teachers, for all the nurses, for everyone that participated to save the life of our son.” 
 

View the entire recognition at the Board of Education and the Board of County Commissioners, and please join us in thanking “these extraordinary staff members whose courage, skill, and compassion made this possible.”

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