When the pandemic left emergency medical services (EMS) across Texas struggling with staffing shortages, Jim Backus, Department Director of Parker County Hospital District EMS, saw both a challenge and an opportunity.<\/p>\n
Backus had long partnered with local Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in Aledo and Weatherford, allowing high school students to shadow medics and observe ambulance ride-outs. But he wondered: What if students could do more than observe? What if they could graduate high school with real-world certifications and a head start on a career in medicine?<\/em><\/p>\n That idea became the foundation for the Parker County EMS Academy, a program training high school seniors to become certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or dispatchers before graduation.<\/p>\n From Idea to Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhen COVID hit, EMS took a big hit,\u201d Backus explained. \u201cMany retired, others left the field, and we knew we had to rebuild our numbers. At the same time, I looked at these high school kids and thought\u2014this could be a great opportunity for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Accepted students spend their senior year balancing classroom instruction with ambulance ride-outs and hands-on training at Parker County\u2019s EMS headquarters in Weatherford. By the end of the year, they are eligible to sit for the national EMT exam. Those who pass graduate with a certification that can lead directly to jobs starting at about $60,000 per year.<\/p>\n \u201cCompare that to fast food or retail jobs,\u201d Backus said. \u201cThis program gives them a real career path\u2014many of our graduates use it to pay for college and come out debt-free, just like I did.\u201d<\/p>\n A School\u2019s Perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n At Mineral Wells High School, the EMS Academy has become a key addition to its health science pathway. Deeann Hampton, the school\u2019s CTE Director, explained that students must already be enrolled in health science courses to apply.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t open it up to everyone, only because it is hard,\u201d Hampton said. \u201cHaving some background in medical terminology helps them be more successful.\u201d<\/p>\n Mineral Wells was among the first schools to join when the academy launched during the pandemic. Hampton credits Backus and his team for making the model sustainable. \u201cMost schools only had a handful of interested students, so it made sense to centralize the program at their facility. Now, it\u2019s grown so much they run two sessions a day.\u201d<\/p>\n For her students, the experience has been transformative. One graduate passed the EMT exam on her first try and immediately found weekend work while attending college full time. Another entered paramedic school. Others have taken flexible event and sports assignments to earn money while pursuing degrees.<\/p>\n \u201cAt first, they\u2019re stressed out because it is adult-level content,\u201d Hampton said. \u201cBut once they find their rhythm, they start to shine. You just watch them grow as individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n More Than a Job<\/strong><\/p>\n The academy prepares students not just for paychecks but for responsibility. They learn medical terminology, patient care, and professional communication while gaining confidence alongside seasoned medics.<\/p>\n \u201cThey learn to interview patients, communicate with families, and handle stressful situations,\u201d Backus said. \u201cBy the end of the year, they\u2019ve grown tremendously in confidence and maturity.\u201d<\/p>\n Some graduates pursue nursing or paramedic school, while others enter the workforce immediately – filling critical EMS roles in rural communities that struggle with staffing shortages.<\/p>\n Expanding Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n While the EMS Academy started small, it has grown rapidly. The program began with just seven students three years ago. Nearly 40 students are expected next year, representing Mineral Wells, Springtown, Aledo, Weatherford, private schools, and others.<\/p>\n In addition to EMT training, the academy now offers a dispatch program. Juniors practice with a simulated console powered by AI, while seniors can earn certification and handle low-acuity 911 calls under supervision. Many step into full-time dispatcher roles starting at $50,000 annually.<\/p>\n \u201cOur dispatch department used to struggle with vacancies,\u201d Backus said. \u201cNow, we\u2019ve got a steady pipeline of trained, motivated young people.\u201d<\/p>\n Powered by Partnerships<\/strong><\/p>\n The academy thrives thanks to partnerships with local school districts and federal grant support. A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant reduced what could have been a $3,000 college-level course to just $500 per student.<\/p>\n At Mineral Wells, Hampton said families contribute that fee as a \u201cbuy-in.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019ve found they\u2019re more successful when they have a little skin in the game,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Because Parker County Hospital District is a public entity rather than a for-profit college, the program focuses on accessibility rather than revenue. Students learn from active paramedics and physicians, ensuring practical, real-world instruction.<\/p>\n Preparing for the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n The EMS Academy has proven to be a win-win: communities gain skilled first responders, and students graduate with career-ready credentials.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery town needs EMS,\u201d Backus said. \u201cWith this program, students can graduate high school, start good-paying careers, or use it as a steppingstone to nursing, paramedicine, or even medical school. It\u2019s exciting to see how far they can go.\u201d<\/p>\n Hampton agreed. \u201cThey\u2019re walking out at 18 years old with a job where they can make a living, while other kids their age still don\u2019t know what they want to do,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s just an amazing opportunity.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When the pandemic left emergency medical services (EMS) across Texas struggling with staffing shortages, Jim Backus, Department Director of Parker County Hospital District EMS, saw both a challenge and an opportunity. Backus had long partnered with local Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in Aledo and Weatherford, allowing high school students to shadow medics and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":72026,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[640],"tags":[641],"class_list":["post-72025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-champion","tag-champion"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n