Kansas City Missouri School District
by Mary Spencer
February 25, 2009 |
Student rescues family from CO-filled home
It’s the stuff of melodrama and nightmares: a malfunctioning furnace, a sleeping family, and an undetectable enemy creeping in unawares to claim the lives of a family of five.
Whatever awakened Lincoln College Prep JROTC Cadet Kaleb Keith in the early morning hours of Nov. 19, 2008, he must have instantaneously appraised the danger and left his bed to warn his two younger brothers and parents. By that time, all had nearly succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, feeling symptoms upon arousal.
Keith led all four members of the family out to the front porch—younger brothers Kris and Kedrik, as well as mother Lisa and his father. He then encouraged 5-year old Kedrik to keep breathing, coaxing him to stay awake when he asked, “Am I going to die?” All the while remaining steadfast in talking to Kris, he asked his father to go back into the house and make sure that the oven was off and the windows open to make certain any further dangers were not posed.
“Somehow he started asking me questions to bring me out of the foggy feeling that engulfed me. I am supposed to be the adult, and here is my teenager comforting me and telling me not to cry, encouraging me,” Keith’s mother said. “Not once did he complain.”
Kaleb went to school later that morning and only then succumbed to his own symptoms. The physician who treated him at Swope Health Services, Dr. William A. Pankey, wrote, “It is a fact that Kaleb literally saved the lives of his family members. I felt it important to recognize this responsible action by Kaleb. I know you have many outstanding students at Lincoln Prep and wish to recognize Kaleb as one of them.”
Maj. Ronald Buske, coordinator of the District JROTC Program, said, “Cadet Keith has held positions in the as squad leader, platoon sergeant and is now the company commander of ALPHA Company. These positions call for ability to provide leadership for others and capacity for personal growth. His current position requires attention to detail as well as motivating cadet peers.”
One notable area in which he has excelled is a community service project, personally designing a twin water gardens at the Academy, and leading the construction with teams of peer volunteers. He exhibited his process with the Kansas City, Mo., School District at Green Summit 2008 last April: these are undertakings of some magnitude for a youth of his age, requiring strategic planning, design, leadership, and care of resources.
Kaleb Keith is also an active member of the Robotics Team, important in its contributions to the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy. The team builds, trains and competes regularly, and Kaleb’s personal goals include a future in engineering and technology. During Green Summit 2008 he was able to network with some of the city’s top “green technology” corporations as well as community organizations.
Kaleb has also been a key member of the JROTC Tiger Battalion. He strives to improve his mental and physical fitness capabilities, and was instrumental in the overall success of the 2007 Cadet Battalion Command Inspection. The Lincoln Tiger Battalion won the prestigious designation of Honor Unit with Distinction, which is the highest award a JROTC unit can receive.
“Special recognition should be given to Kaleb Keith for his personal courage and lack of concern for his own safety as he acted in an outstanding manner by taking the initiative and using good judgment,” said Maj. Buske. “He made sound and timely decisions leading to the safe evacuation of his family members from a dangerous, gas-filled house.”
2008 Archives:
February School District honors Kansas City pioneers & Attucks students learn power of positive choices
January Safety a top priority for KC public schools & School district tries to reach dropouts
2007 Archives:
December Lincoln Prep top in the nation in 2008
November Parents Have Power
October Early Reading First
September National Attention on Reform Initiative
July Neighborhood Schools for Everyone
June Year-End Wrap-Up from Head of Schools
May Summer School Starts June 18 , Summer School Is for Everyone & Parent Power Prepares You for College
April Wake Up: It's Time to Take a MAP & Lincoln Goes to Robotics Finals
February See the Stars at Southwest High School
January Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Up & College Degrees for District Parents
