Teacher's quick action saves student at Frank Jacinto Elementary

LORAIN — On Wednesday afternoon, Alexis Simon, a fifth-grade teacher at Frank Jacinto Elementary School, became more than a teacher to one of her students when he needed her most.

Xavion was eating an orange he'd gotten earlier that day when he suddenly began to cough. He raised his arm and grabbed his throat.

Mrs. Simon knew immediately what was happening.

"I knew right away he was actually choking," she said. "Thank goodness I had been a coach in the district for several years and had first-aid training. I was able to recognize it and knew I needed to do the Heimlich maneuver."

Xavion said some of the other students thought he was joking, but he knew he was in trouble.

Mrs. Simon did, too. She quickly moved behind him, wrapped her arms around his body and began thrusting upward until the orange segment flew out and fell to the floor.

"To be honest, it was quite scary," she said. "It took longer than I anticipated. I had learned the maneuver on bigger bodies, and he's much smaller — an elementary student. But I was able to get it out."

Xavion had a simpler explanation.

"She's a superhero. She saved the day," he said.

On Friday, the last day before winter break, Mrs. Simon was honored with the district's Catch Being Great recognition—an honor she said she didn't feel she deserved.

"I just did what I would want someone to do for my own child," she said. "He was choking, and I needed to save him."

Principal Christine Miller said honoring Mrs. Simon was an easy decision and that sharing the story with district leaders and the community mattered.

"We celebrate when people step in without hesitation to help someone else," Miller said. "To his mother, what she did was nothing short of amazing."