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Inside a classroom at Creekview High School sits something students don't normally find at school: the back half of a real ambulance.
It's not there for decoration.
Students in Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District's Fire Academy will use it to learn how to work inside the confined space of an ambulance, practice emergency medical skills and prepare for careers that could eventually put them inside Carrollton, Farmers Branch or Addison fire stations.
CFBISD and the City of Carrollton celebrated the academy's newly renovated training space Monday, Aug. 24, with a ribbon cutting attended by students, district leaders, Carrollton Fire Rescue personnel and city officials.
The classroom was renovated through the district's 2023 bond program and is designed to give students a realistic environment for firefighter and emergency medical training.
The ambulance was donated by Carrollton Fire Rescue after it was retired from service. The passenger compartment became part of the Fire Academy classroom, while the chassis was donated to Creekview's automotive program.
But the ambulance is only part of what students have to work with.
Creekview junior Nils Clements, who has completed two years in the Fire Academy, gave visitors a tour Monday, pointing out the oxygen refill station, breathing apparatuses and 30-minute air cylinders students use for training.
"I think it's a great investment and a great facility overall," Clements said.
The Fire Academy begins in ninth grade with Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security, followed by Disaster Response in 10th grade. Beginning their junior year, students take dual-credit firefighter courses through North Central Texas College. Seniors continue with firefighter certification courses, an internship and emergency medical technician training.
Students also travel to NCTC for training at its burn tower. Those who successfully complete the program can graduate with Basic Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician certifications. Once they turn 18, they can be eligible to go directly to work for a fire department.
The academy was created through a partnership with Carrollton Fire Rescue, and classes are taught by a Carrollton firefighter. Students receive hands-on training and have opportunities for ride-alongs with the department.
Leigh Ann Stone, CFBISD director of career and technical education and college, career and military readiness, credited Carrollton Fire Chief Michael Thomson and his department with helping the district develop the program and envision what the new training space could become.
The goal, Thomson said Monday, isn't simply to teach teenagers how to fight fires.
"This is much more than just learning how to become a firefighter and EMT," Thomson said. "It's learning teamwork, responsibility, accountability, discipline, service and what it means to be something that's bigger than yourself."
And there is another potential payoff for the community.
"Grow our own firefighters right here in Carrollton," Thomson said.
For students, that means high school can become the beginning of a career rather than simply preparation for the next round of schooling. They can find out whether the fire service is right for them while learning skills and earning certifications that would otherwise come later.
Chad Hunter, executive director of advanced academics and post-secondary readiness, said the academy is unusual because multiple aspects of the community came together on the project: the city, school district, community college and fire department.
"There are very few things where every part of the community have a part in making it happen, and this is one of them," Hunter said.
He called the partnership a "beautiful" example of the community's unity, shared values and willingness to be proactive.
Carrollton Mayor Steve Babick also pointed to the partnership between the city and school district.
"We've oftentimes said that Carrollton strives to be the community that families and businesses want to call home," Babick said, adding that schools are one of the primary reasons families choose a community.
He pointed to the Fire Academy students in the room as part of Carrollton's future.
The program is offered at Creekview to students in grades nine through 12. It is one of several CFBISD career and technical education programs designed to prepare students to leave high school "trained, certified and hirable."
For Creekview, the renovated academy comes as the campus celebrates another milestone. Creekview recently became the first CFBISD comprehensive high school to receive an A under the state's current A-F accountability system, according to the district.
Superintendent Dr. Wendy Eldredge said the Fire Academy is especially meaningful to her because her father-in-law was a firefighter.
"I think it's the best profession ever," Eldredge said. "I think it's going to do great things. I'm excited for how it's going to grow."
Thomson ended with a message directly to the students.
"Take advantage of this," he said. "This is a great opportunity. Learn everything you can, challenge yourself, take care of each other and understand that the instructors, the firefighters, educators and the community partners standing behind us are investing in your future because we believe in what you can become."
For some of those students, the classroom with an ambulance parked inside may be the first step toward eventually climbing into another one with Carrollton Fire Rescue written on the side.
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