fbpx

Member Spotlight: Marty Westall, St. Johns Education Association

Marty Westall (far right) at a recent training for union members in St. Johns County
A collection of trophies won by students in the Academy of Law and Homeland Security at St. Augustine High School

Students who go through the Academy of Law and Homeland Security (ALHS) at The St. Augustine High School graduate prepared to start a career in law enforcement. Almost twenty members of last year’s graduating class of ALHS are currently working in law enforcement locally and around the globe. In addition to working as a police officer or a deputy sheriff, these careers include a game warden, a 911 dispatcher and more.

Retired law enforcement officer Marty Westall, who is beginning his sixth year as a teacher in the ALHS, beams with pride as he talks about the transformation of a “young lady who was so very shy…I couldn’t get her to go up in front of the class and say anything at all” who is now a military police officer for the United States Army currently stationed in Korea. “That is a success story, and I love telling it! She stays in touch with me and lets me know how much she learned (in the ALHS).”

The personal growth of the students in ALHS has also been mirrored by the program’s growth. ALHS had 16 students seven years ago and will have nearly 250 students enrolled for the start of the 2024-25 school year. Westall, who also serves as Vice President of the St. Johns County Education Association, attributes the program’s growth to “Showing the kids that someone cares about them and that they have opportunities.”

As Westall tells his students, no matter what they are passionate about, they can turn that passion into a career in law enforcement. “If you like to cook, they need a cook at the jail. If you like math, they need someone in payroll. If you like to talk to people, they need 911 dispatchers. There is a whole gamut of positions at the sheriff’s office or police department.”

Whatever they decide to do after high school, Westall wants all of his students to know that they are a part of one big family. The family bonds start even before the school year when upperclassmen and graduates of ALHS speak to incoming freshman during orientation. “One of the reasons for the orientation is so they (freshmen) get to know other students, so they know (on) the first day of school they have a familiar face in the hallway… they know they have an attachment there.”

The strength of the bond between the students and their teacher became apparent even to Westall’s healthcare providers as he was recovering from cancer. For example, there was the student who knitted a blanket for her beloved teacher because she heard that chemotherapy treatments can make the patients feel cold. It was the first blanket the student ever knitted. Then there are the students who skipped school and “showed up at the cancer center to be with me when I rang the bell (to signify the end of chemotherapy treatment). That was a very special moment…those students came with me and we rang the bell together. They brought me gifts. They brought me flowers and a very special, sweet card.”

Though some of the students were worried about getting in trouble for leaving campus that day, Westall assured them they didn’t need to worry about that. “If someone says something to you or they won’t excuse you because you came here, I’ll handle that for you. Don’t worry.”

When Westall’s students look back at their time at The St. Augustine High School, they will no doubt remember the lessons they learned in proper law enforcement procedure, the technology and simulators they were able to use and the appreciation they gained for the wide variety of paths a career in law enforcement can take. Most of all, they will remember they are part of one big, loving and supportive family.

There are great stories like these in every public school in Florida. If you know a teacher, school counselor, bus driver, custodian or any other member of the education family that you would like to see profiled, please fill out this form and let us know.

Florida Educators Remain Focused on Students in Light of Federal Uncertainty

The Florida Education Association has released the following statement addressing the uncertainty surrounding federal executive orders and reaffirming their commitment to Florida’s educators and children. “Educators in Florida want to…

Read more about Florida Educators Remain Focused on Students in Light of Federal Uncertainty

Governors’ Budget Proposal is Opportunity for Legislature to Fully Commit to Students and Public-School Funding

Key takeawaysWhile the Governor’s budget proposal is just that- a proposal- its an opportunity for the legislature to take a bold stand and commit to our students, educators and their…

Read more about Governors’ Budget Proposal is Opportunity for Legislature to Fully Commit to Students and Public-School Funding

Statement on 2024 NAEP Scores

"This should be a wake-up call: Florida's students deserve real investment in their neighborhood public schools — now." Today, the Florida Education Association (FEA) has released a statement regarding the…

Read more about Statement on 2024 NAEP Scores

SAT Scores and the Impact of Underfunding Public Education

The recent release of SAT scores shines a much-needed light on how Florida’s attacks on teachers are felt by Florida’s children. In the past seven years, Florida’s average SAT score…

Read more about SAT Scores and the Impact of Underfunding Public Education

Member Profile: Ruby Encarnacion, Volusia United Educators

#thankaneducator: Help us thank an educator like Ruby Encarnacion today! Ruby Encarnacion faced struggles as an educator with disabilities. With the help of her union, she is…

Read more about Member Profile: Ruby Encarnacion, Volusia United Educators

Member Spotlight: Carla Cundiff, Indian River County Education Association

In serving on IRCEA’s executive board, Cundiff carries on a family legacy. Her mother was a founding member of IRCEA in the 1970s. Cundiff maintains a large, diverse classroom library.…

Read more about Member Spotlight: Carla Cundiff, Indian River County Education Association