Janet DeYear is the co-owner and Training Center Coordinator for the Daniel E. DeYear Training Center, which has been in business since 1984. She and her husband, Daniel, a retired Fire Chief with Dallas Fire Rescue, have taught thousands of students the life-saving skills of CPR, First Aid and AED usage in schools, healthcare facilities, community organizations and local businesses. Janet is also a BLS Lead Instructor and Training Center Faculty for their business and spends much of her time training, mentoring and supporting her instructors and Training Sites. As a volunteer for the American Heart Association, Janet serves on the Education Subcommittee, mentoring other AHA Training Centers and on the TCC Orientation Task Force, which is creating updated training materials for new and existing Coordinators. Her expertise as a Training Center Coordinator includes assisting many school districts in the state of Texas. Janet and her husband have three grown children, a son-in-law, and a big, friendly Australian Shephard! Janet is a past PTA President, Girl Scout Leader, soccer mom, and Sunday School teacher. In her free time, she loves to travel, play tennis, walk/hike, read a good mystery novel, volunteer at various organizations, and scrapbook her family's activities. 

Daniel is originally from The Bronx in New York City and began his Fire Service Career in the North East. His time in the Texas Fire Service began over 40 years ago. He previously worked for the Carrollton Fire Department for nearly 10 years, serving in several capacities. He then served for two years as an International Fire Marshal for the U. S. Department of State, Foreign Building Operations, where he travelled to more than 35 countries providing fire & life safety to the United States Embassies and Consulates. He has been with the Dallas Fire Department for the past 30+ years and has held every rank up to Deputy Chief. Currently, he is a retired Deputy Chief. He also serves as the Chairman of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, Firefighter Advisory Committee and is a member of the Curriculum and Testing Committee and the Health and Wellness Committees. He was the TAFE 2020 Instructor of the Year. Daniel is a Public Speaker and can be found at chiefdeyear.com and operates under We Are 2nd LLC. He lives in Plano with his wife Janet and they have three grown children. He is an avid snow skier and enjoys baseball, football and auto racing. 

Cheyenne Kirkpatrick has taught health science at Kilgore High School for 12 years as well as teaching as an adjunct professor for Kilgore College. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training and a Bachelors of Science in Education from Southern Arkansas University. She also earned a Masters of Science in Sports Management from Texas Woman's University and a Masters of Science in Health Education from University of Texas at Tyler. 

 

 

I am retired after 35 years in education, with the last 20 being Health Science. I started a new program in my school years ago, and we were supporting two full time teachers when I retired. I have taught nearly all of the basic classes, plus EMT. I have been involved in Emergency Medicine since I was in High School, so I've seen many different methods of doing most skills in my experience. I have served on the THOA BOD in several postitons. I serve as a First Responder and CERT coordinator in my county and enjoy gardening and home canning in my free time. 

Registerd Pharmacist for 29 years Pharmacy Instructor 4 years 

I've retired after 35 years in public education, with the last 20 being in Health Science. I taught EMT classes in my school for more than 15 years. I remain an active EMT Instructor. 

Multiple years of experience working on projects and partnerships to bring Virtual Reality into classroom and training settings. Implementation experience spans K12 districts all around the U.S., as well as Community Colleges, 4 year college programs and various government, workforce and not-for-profit entities looking for innovative ways to train the future health workforce of America 

Title: Navigating the Credential Maze: Unlocking Career Opportunities with Industry-Recognized Credentials Session Proposal: Overview: In the labyrinth of today's job market, industry-recognized credentials serve as a beacon, guiding learners towards promising career paths. As industry priorities shift towards skills-based learning, the importance of workforce credentials is at an all-time high. This session aims to demystify the complex marketplace of credentials, examine their growing demand and the pivotal role they play in shaping the future of employment and education. In this session, we’ll discuss the critical role of industry-recognized credentials in bridging the gap between education and the workforce. We will explore NHA credentials available and how they can be matched with the skills that employers are actively seeking. This session will offer a clear, actionable approach for high school educators to help select and earn credentials that are valued by industries and can lead to employment or further education The session will provide a roadmap for leveraging these credentials as you shape your program to the needs of your learners as future healthcare professionals. Learning Objectives: 1. Clarify the role and importance of industry-recognized credentials for high school students entering the workforce. 2. Discuss how workforce credentials can enhance a student's appeal to employers and provide a competitive advantage. 3. Examine successful models where industry credentials have been integrated into high school curricula and accountability measures. 4. Provide high school educators with strategies to incorporate industry-recognized credentials into their teaching and career guidance practices to set their students and programs up for long-term success. 

THOA Board 

same as last session 

I began my career as a nurse in the late 90s and subsequently, I have had the opportunity to embark on many different areas of the nursing field. I have experienced the beauty of both caring for patients that have begun their life journey and those whose odyssey is ending, Nevertheless, I have learned that compassion is paramount and education is continuous. Therefore, as I ventured into my seasoned years I realized that I needed and wanted to further my education and after graduating with a Bachelor's degree decades ago, I enrolled and successfully completed my Master's Degree during Covid. I would love to tell you that education is easier as you age but for me it was not. Which is why, I enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program within months of graduating. Therefore, as I wrap up my 23rd year of teaching I can say by 2025... the little black girl from the hood will have exceeded her wildest dreams. If she can ... so can you 

Susan is a second career nurse of eighteen years after a twenty-year career in higher education administration, pre-professional advising, and high school health career recruitment. She currently teaches pre-licensure BSN students, with experience in associate degree, RN to BSN, and MSN level students, at Texas A&M University School of Nursing, mostly in women’s and mental health. Her educational background includes undergraduate degrees in secondary education and nursing, and master’s degrees in educational psychology and an MSN in Nursing Education. She holds a DNP in Leadership from the University of Texas at Tyler. Clinical interests include mindfulness, nursing student stress and anxiety, efforts to improve the nursing student experience, teaching innovation, and postpartum depression. 

Barbara taught Health Science at Churchill HS in San Antonio for 16 years. Then she transitioned into the role of an adminstrator at the district level over the Health Science programs at Northside ISD in San Antonio where she worked for 6 years and is now retired. 

I am a RN that has been teaching Health Science classes and sponsoring HOSA since 1990. For the past few years, I have been the CNA Program Director for Lubbock ISD and South Plains College - Lubbock Campus. I love being "Gran" to my grandson and my daughter's middle school choir students. I am a huge fan of Texas Tech football and through Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Michael Polk is a seasoned retail and training Specialist with over 15 years of experience. His success record has been focused on client development solutions and strategies while building brand awareness within various retail companies. He studied Marketing Management at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. With a career spanning luxury retail giants such as Neiman Marcus Corp and Saks Fifth Avenue, Michael specializes in sales, training, and development, with a particular emphasis on coaching. He has led numerous successful projects, including the development of a custom eyewear platform that achieved a 30% increase in sales within its inaugural year. Beyond his professional endeavors, Michael is deeply passionate about mentorship and regularly volunteers with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Project Rowe House, and the Social Movement Dance Theatre. Outside of work, Michael's adventurous spirit has led him to explore 52 countries, enriching his understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives. He finds joy in culinary pursuits and cherishes moments of relaxation by the beach. Michael is a firm believer in the power of manifesting positivity to drive meaningful change, and he is dedicated to leveraging his skills and experiences to contribute to a better world. 

Master CERT Instructor since 2018, the journey with students through the Community Emergency Response Team curriculum and program. Join me in exploring the possibilities within your Health Science program. 

I’m a first generation college graduate. I’m from Dallas ,Tx. Currently I’m CTE health science instructor at Dallas independent school district. I teach the Patient Care Technician Practicum course. I have over four years of clinical experience and have worked at the top trauma centers. During my time teaching I have learned many different ways to diversify my pedagogy. I have held many professional developments on campus targeting cooperative learning and increasing student engagement. 

My name is Carla Melgar, I'm Honduran American, first generation in my family. And the oldest sibling. So, the pressure is real. I'm a pharmacy technician for 12 years. I graduated from Bryan Adams High School. I have an associate degree of science from Dallas College and 2 bachelors of psychology and sociology from UNT Dallas. I survived my first year of teaching. I honestly love it; I'm living a God testimony. I wish to continue my education and pursue education. 

Melissa Rohrbough received a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Southwest Texas University in 1991. She holds a Texas Teaching Certificate for grades 6-12 in Composite Science and holds a Texas Teaching Certificate for grades 8-12 in Health Science. She worked as a laboratory technologist for 6 years before moving to teaching. She taught chemistry and integrated chemistry and physics for ten years before moving to health science in which she is starting her sixteenth year. She has taught various courses in health science including Principles of Health Science, Theory of Health Science, Pharmacology, Pharmacy Technician Certification, Phlebotomy Certification and Clinical Medical Assistant Certification. She is also a HOSA advisor and served 6 years on the Texas Board of Directors for HOSA . She has taught multiple workshops for THOA, Texas Health Occupations Association including Phlebotomy 101 , Haven’t thought of that and A Little of This and a Little of That. These workshops focused on bringing hands on activities with instructional strategies for health science teachers. Her educational philosophy is very simple: she makes her classroom a place where students want to be instead of where they must be. 

Kristen has a bachelors degree athletic training from BYU and a masters in education from Texas State University. She has been teaching since 2006. Kristen was presented with the 2020 Utah HOSA Lifetime Achievement Award.