Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Charley Cashen on March 24, 2010 at 8:08am

Hi Tammy, first and foremost I really try not to discriminate to anyone in the fire service. Credentials don't make the teacher. Can you make some of those same dry classes fun and something your students are going to walk away talking about? I attended one class that a woman was going to teach and I was really looking forward to it. She was a civilian instructor that dealt more with the the personnel issues we deal with on a day to day basis. I was very disappointed when she pretty much gave the class to the class to simply tell stories about different things they had encountered. I don't think she did that because she was a woman I think that just happened and I thought it sucked. I've been an instructor 1 in the state of Missouri for 10 years, I teach everything from Rapid intervention to the correct placement of the remote control for the TV. I am the training coordinator for our company that teaches Large Area Search throughout the state. Male or female should never come into decisions you make when teaching anything in the fire service. These are my opinions alone. Be safe and good luck in your career. Charley

Permalink Reply by Tammy on March 24, 2010 at 12:11pm

Charley, thank you so much for your thoughts. I agree with you in that, I have taken a couple classes that were taught by men and then took refresher courses in the same subject taught by a woman. In one instance the female was the more entertaining intructor. I would so love to do a train-the-trainer with you for your "correct placement of the remote control" course. I would use that one at home for my children and husband, LOL! I was just curious to see how many women like us there are in the instructor world. Thanks again and stay safe out there. ~Tammy

Permalink Reply by Caryn on June 16, 2010 at 8:49am

I am a Fire & Emergency Services Instructor, as well as, and AHA Basic Life Support Instructor. I go to many different departments in my state to teach classes. I have typically been treated with fairness and respect in each class. Sure, there are those who are determined never to listen to a woman, but when the s@!% hits the fan, I hope they picked up some life saving information from me.

Permalink Reply by Thomas Green on June 18, 2010 at 3:32pm

In my 18 years of FF I've had several female Instructors, an they were very good. Kept the interest of the class an knew their subject material well. I can learn from anyone.

Permalink Reply by Thomas Green on June 19, 2010 at 8:18am

Come to think about it. When I was taking classes to become an EMS Instructor, both of them were female, an there was never a boring momunet in the class. They made it fun/interesting, an you wanted to learn more from them

Permalink Reply by Karla Kennedy-Zarn on March 30, 2011 at 12:26pm

Hey Tammy,

Great subject by the way.
We have only had a few Female Instuctors in the last 17yrs I've been on the department. 1 course was from FEMA-ICS 100 where our local fire department hosted the course & the other course was put on by Montana State~ Fire & Life Safety Course.

Permalink Reply by angie massey on February 28, 2012 at 5:49pm

Go for it Tammy, I have been teaching for about 3 years and love it.  I do mostly 1403 Classes as well as some AHA basic life support classes.  It has been a very positive experience for me.