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My name is Tannia Anderson. I was a worker/student at Baptist Ambulance in Cordova, TN. I was attending class at Baptist Ambulance. On Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023, at 11:30 am, they let me go due to retaliation because I expressed my concern about skills and CPR to our regional human resource manager Jenny Evans and operation manager Angela Mabry. I told them that my teacher Leslee McKnight issued our entire class an AHA card but didn't teach us CPR.
On Monday, July 31st, 2023, at 2:21 pm, I called Jenny Evans. I told her I wasn't happy with my teacher and the program. I told Mrs. Jenny, "I am tired of feeling like I'm cheating myself out of becoming a great EMT professional." She told me to talk to Angela. I expressed the same concerns to Angela Mabry. I told Ms. Angela that Ms. Leslee McKnight never taught us anything from the book. She issued us an AHA card and didn't teach us CPR. We have skills on Friday, and she won't teach us skills. I'm tired of begging Ms. Leslee to teach us. Ms. Angela started shaking and looking nervous. She told me she had to talk to upper management and get back to me.
On Tuesday, August 1st, 2023, at 9:48 am, Ms. Jenny wanted to have a classroom meeting while Ms. Angela and Ms. Leslee were present. Ms. Jenny started the conversation by saying that the state of Tennessee approved their curriculum. They will keep running their program like they have been running it. She stated they had eight people to pass on their first time and three that failed in the class before us. I told Ms. Jenny, "Everybody from the last class told us they had a student named Brittney that taught them because she used to work at a hospital." Most of those students told us Ms. Leslee didn't teach them anything.
I told Ms. Jenny that the program wasn't what I expected it to be. The curriculum is unorganized, dysfunctional, and not worth $5,000; it needs to be rewritten and more organized with structure. Jenny asked, "What do you mean?" I expressed that I have been begging Ms. Leslee to teach us CPR, EMT knowledge, and skills. I told Ms. Jenny and Angela in front of Ms. Leslee that Ms. Leslee had yet to teach us anything about the book or skills for the field. I told them I was tired of teaching myself and feeling like I ‘m cheating myself out of becoming a great EMT. I said to them that this EMT program is not worth $5,000. I asked why we have to pay back $5,000 to you when you all promoted and advertised this EMT course like it's FREE! Ms. Jenny stated the program wasn't free to those who don't want to be here, but it is Free to those that stay there for two years.
I stated we are only passing because we are self-teaching ourselves. We're taking the same tests over again and remembering the answer. We do not understand the questions because we don't have anyone to break down the "how or why" of why it's the correct answer. I explained to Ms. Jenny and Ms. Angela why Ms. Leslee is not a great teacher. I told them that our teacher gave us a book and never taught from it. On Thursday after lunch, she gave us the answers to Friday's Fisdap test. She issued us an AHA card, and we don't know how to do CPR because our teacher gave us the answers to the test. She said she wanted to wait until the last week of class to teach us skills and CPR. Ms. Jenny asked Ms. Angela if we could stay another week in class to review what we didn't know. Ms. Angela replied to Ms. Jenny by shaking her head, "No."
Ms. Jenny asked Ms. Leslee, "Why haven't you taught them from the book?" Ms. Leslee stated the book is online, "They can read it for themselves." I said, "The stuff online doesn't go into detail like the book." Yes, we can all read for ourselves, but we still need to understand everything we read. We still need someone to teach and break it down to us. I mentioned to Ms. Jenny that every time one of my classmates or I asked too many questions, Ms. Leslee gets up, goes to her office, and stays for the rest of the day. She returns around 3:30 or 4 pm and tells us to clean up the building and that we can go home early if we like.
Ms. Jenny asked Ms. Leslee, "Did you issue them an AHA card and didn't teach them CPR?" Ms. Leslee stated, "Yes, I couldn't teach them CPR because I was running back and forward, completing tasks for you." Ms. Jenny asked, "What were you doing for me?" Ms. Leslee stated, "You know all those emails and paperwork you sent me, I had to send back to you." Ms. Jenny's facial expression looked confused. She said, "Aww, ok!" My classmates and I could tell Ms. Jenny didn't know what Ms. Leslee was talking about; on what she did for her. Ms. Jenny agreed with her, but she still looked confused.
Ms. Jenny asked Ms. Leslee, "Why haven't you taught them skills and CPR?" Ms. Leslee said, "I'm going to teach them skills and CPR this week." Ms. Leslee also stated, "I like to wait until the last week of class because most students like to drop out and quit. I don't want to teach skills to someone that doesn't want to be here anymore! I like teaching it to small groups to ensure everybody gets it!" I told Ms. Jenny, "That's not a good excuse for her not teaching us skills & CPR! Ms. Leslee informed us we will start skills on Monday, July 31st, and we will do skills & CPR all day until 2 pm because Joe Holley was coming to meet us. After Joe Holley leaves, we will start doing skills and CPR."
I informed Ms. Jenny that Joe Holley came around 2 pm. Ms. Leslee introduced Joe Holley to the class. She told Joe Holley that he could have her chair to sit in. He came in and sat down in Ms. Leslee's chair. He introduced himself and told us about his career, transitioning from a doctor to EMS as a medical director. Joe asked, "Do you all have questions for me?" We told Joe Holley "No" because we were ready to learn skills and CPR. Ms. Leslee started bragging about Joe to the class. She stated Joe was one of her favorite people in the whole wide world. Joe laughed while getting up from the chair. Then, Joe left the classroom. Ms. Angela stopped him in the hallway before he left the building. Joe and Angela were talking to each other. We were sitting in the classroom, looking bored and doing nothing.
I approached Ms. Leslee and asked, "When will we learn skills and CPR?" Mrs. Leslee stated, "It's too late in the day to start. We can start tomorrow." Ms. Leslee told me, "You all don't need to worry about skills because we are conducting skills, and we will coach you all through it and pass you all. Mike Duck will be present in the building, but he can walk in on your skill session. At that point, we will have to fail you, but you can draw another card and go to another person to pass. I need you all to focus on MedicTest and get it in the Green because it is like the NREMT." I replied to Ms. Leslee, "Today is Monday. Tomorrow is Tuesday. Our EMT skills are scheduled for Friday! You haven't taught us anything. Could you teach us something? I can get MedicTest in the Green before Friday, but there's a lot of stuff I don't know, like the basics, CPR, and skills. You are acting like you aren't our teacher. We only get MedicTest in the Green because we remember the answers, not because we know them. I'm tired of feeling like I'm cheating myself of being a great EMT." That is when I walked away from Ms. Leslee into the hallway. Then, I called Ms. Jenny!
When I repeated everything to Ms. Jenny, what I said to Ms. Leslee, and what Ms. Leslee told me about Mike Duck. Ms. Jenny's facial expression dropped to the floor. Ms. Jenny walked up to where I was sitting, leaned over the table, and whispered to me. "Can you, me, and Angela have a private conversation away from the classroom?" I whispered back, "No!" Ms. Jenny's face turned red.
I told Ms. Jenny I tried to have a private conversation about my concerns and issues yesterday. You told me to talk to Ms. Angela. Ms. Angela told me she will speak with upper management and get back to me regarding my concerns instead of you all having a private conversation with me regarding my problems and issues. You (Ms. Jenny) wanted to host a classroom meeting. You all want to have a public discussion on my concerns & issues but want me to have a private conversation on your issue. So, let's talk since we are all here and present in this classroom!
I told Ms. Jenny they were running a fraudulent EMT program/recruitment scam and charging us $5,000 for the program. Ms. Jenny said that they don't want the money back from us. I need EMTs, paramedics, and drivers for those ambulances. I told Ms. Jenny, "I need someone to teach and train me! I have sacrificed my entire summer to come here to become an EMT. Now, I have lost time that I can't get back." Ms. Jenny asked me, "What do you want from me?" I stated, "Just give me everything; I came here to become an EMT." I want to learn CPR, EMT basic, and skill.
Ms. Jenny stopped talking to the class and called a meeting with Ms. Angela and Ms. Leslee. They walked to Ms. Angela's office. They stayed in Ms. Angela's room for 20 minutes. Ms. Jenny walked out to the front door. Ms. Leslee came back and started teaching us skills. Ms. Angela stayed in her office.
