STUDENT RECOGNIZED FOR QUICK ACTION
Posted: September 9th, 2011 4:05 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-09/1294/47540/Yahaira__and__Sheriff_Myers.jpg (Yahaira & Sheriff Myers)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-09/1294/47540/Yahairas_award.jpg (Yahaira's award)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-09/1294/47540/Mother_and_daughter.jpg (Yahaira and her Mom)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-09/1294/47540/Yahairas_interview.jpg (Yahaira's media interview)
When 13-year old Yahaira Vallejo saw the young boy crying as he stepped from the school bus, she knew something was wrong. It was about 3:30pm, Thursday afternoon when the 6-year old Lamb Elementary School student, who was attending his first day of school, inadvertently boarded a school bus assuming it would take him home. Instead, the boy rode about two miles to Falcon View Way and Ward Drive NE in Salem, where he got off the bus and discovered his was no where near his home. Yahaira lived in the nearby apartments. She realized she needed to do something. She comforted the boy, calming him down, and then walked him to Hayesville School. Yahaira thought he might be a student there. She didn't know the boy, but felt compelled to help him.
Hayesville School officials quickly determined that he was from Lamb Elementary and that deputies were already at the school responding to a call from his mother. Sr. Deputy Skip Lumley met with the boy's mother after she arrived at the school to pick him up after class and was unable to locate him. He and other MCSO deputies were beginning a methodical search, assisted by school personnel.
The boy and his mother were reunited within 30 minutes of the original call.
School officials learned that the boy had somehow obtained a school bus pass and boarded the bus. Because it was the first day of his school year, he didn't stand out among the other students. Jay Remy, Director of Communications for the Salem Keizer School District, reemphasized that student safety is a top priority for the school district. They will conduct a review of this incident to determine if they can improve their protocol.
On Friday afternoon, Sheriff Jason Myers surprised Yahaira in her classroom at Adam Stevens Middle School. He commended her for her quick thinking and willingness to get involved to return the boy to his family. Sheriff Myers presented her with a Sheriff's Recognition Award certificate, a MCSO shoulder patch and some wrist bands. Yahaira received a loud applause from her fellow students. Sheriff Myers told Yahaira's classmates, "You can all be proud of Yahaira's actions. She was a real hero".
The recognition award was the second one given to an Adam Stevens student in the past year. In May of 2011, Alexander Rodriguez was commended for his honesty in returning $60 in cash that was found in a parking lot.
Replies to this message do not go back to the sender.
Go to http://FlashAlert.net/login.html to change or delete these messages.
