POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County kindergarten student is being called a hero for getting his substitute teacher help when she became unconscious in class.
- Incident occurred August 22
- Teacher on life support for 12 days
- Polk Sheriff's Office gave student a new bicycle
- More Good News stories
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred on August 22 at Frostproof Elementary School.
Six-year-old Max Meza went to another classroom and requested help when he saw his substitute teacher, Joyce Darr, knocked unconscious. Investigators said another child had bumped into her, causing her to fall and hit her head on a desk.
“I’m glad he helped Mrs. Darr. If he hadn’t have said something, something else could’ve happened to her. You never know,” said Max’s mother, Monica Aguilar.
Darr’s son Derek invited Max and his family to see Darr in the hospital Wednesday.
She had been on life support for 12 days.
“She smiled," Aguilar said. "She didn’t remember what happened. Her son came up and hugged Max and he got very emotional and gave Max the shoes."
Derek Darr gave Max a pair of Nike Jordan sneakers. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office also showed Max their appreciation with a new bike.
“Max is a hero. He saved her life," said Sheriff Grady Judd in a Facebook video posted to the agency’s page. "We rewarded him with a bike and a good citizenship award at the elementary in front of all of his peers for doing good.”
“I’m very proud of Max and what he did," said Aguilar in the same video. "I’m very of him of him as a mom. I would never expect that from him — he’s so small. To know what to do in an event like that. I’m just so proud of my kid.”