President

Lara Ondruch

Lara Ondruch is a faculty member at Houston Community College, and the Regional Officer for the Gulf Coast Region of TAEMSE. Knowing she wanted to be involved in healthcare and education, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Health Education from Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) in 2008 and taught/coached at the High School level. She then completed EMT, Intermediate, and Paramedic school at Houston Community College in 2012. Following the birth of her daughter Lara began her EMS education career. Lara was a faculty member at WCJC for almost 3 years where she was a NISOD recipient in 2018. When Lara is not teaching, she spends her time with her husband Matt and their amazing daughter, Parker, rooting on the Astros and Aggies.

Vice President

Eric Steffel

My name is Eric Steffel. I have been a Paramedic for 15 years and in EMS for 19 years. I also served 8 years in the Army National Guard and ultimately deployed to Afghanistan as a combat medic and as a human intelligence collector and exited the military as a Staff Sargent. I have primarily served as an EMS educator for 911 EMS systems for the past 8 years and was a Field Training Officer and Supervisor before that. As an EMS Educator, I focus on staff development, protocol development, AHA program manager, CQI manager, and managed and instructed initial EMT and Paramedic education programs.

My passion is empowering providers with the necessary knowledge and confidence to provide the most thoughtful medicine possible. There is nothing more rewarding to me than seeing a staff member or student get excited about medicine or their performance because they understand something they once feared. While field experience cannot be replaced, working to better prepare the educators and mentors within EMS education will help to better prepare our profession to move forward.

Throughout Eric's career he has striven for excellence and to help others progress to success. Eric joined the TAEMSE Board in 2019 and looks forward to continuing to serve the TAEMSE Board with the same efforts.

Treasurer

Sheila Elliott

Sheila is the full-time EMS Director employed by the University Emergency Medical Response (UEMR) at UT Dallas and oversees both the First Responder Organization and the Education Division.

Before starting the EMS program in 2020 at UEMR at UT Dallas, she was the EMS Education Advanced Coordinator at El Centro College. Sheila has a varied EMS clinical background, working at Cooke County EMS, Southwest Transplant Alliance, Methodist Dallas ER and CareFlite.

Secretary

Rory Prue

It had been my dream since paramedic school to become an EMS instructor. I took an EMS Instructor course in 1994. In 1996 I was asked to start teaching some classes in the paramedic program. In 1997 I took over as the lead instructor/program director of the EMS Education program for Riverside Medical Center/Kankakee Community College. I have enjoyed teaching full-time in EMS since then.

I never dreamed the opportunity would arise to do what I love doing and that is full-time teaching. Working as a full-time instructor and program director has become a dream come true for me and I love every minute. Every day I learn new things.

I am currently the Department Chair for EMSP and Fire Protection Technology at Tyler Junior College in Tyler Texas.

Executive Officer

Jeff McDonald

Jeff McDonald began his EMS career in 1979 as an EMT student at the then Tarrant County Junior College.  Starting as a volunteer EMT instructor and teaching at the college part time while working as a paramedic in ground and air EMS in the Fort Worth area, Jeff now serves as the Program Director for the EMS Program at Galveston College in Galveston Texas.

Jeff is active as a site visitor and in other activities with the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP), serves on committees with the National Association of EMS Educators, and is a frequent burr in the side for the Education committee of the Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC). He has over forty years of experience in EMS, with over thirty years in EMS education.

Executive Officer

Leslie Hernandez

35 years in Texas EMS, 32 years as EMS educator, DSHS Advanced Coordinator, AHA TC Faculty, AHA Regional Faculty, NAEMT Educator/Affiliate PHTLS, AMLS, GEMS. IBSC item writer. NAEMT course development projects. Program Director for large EMS student group basic through paramedic. Doctorate in Adult Education.

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D. Susie Jechow

(Donna Sue) Susie Jechow is currently the EMS Program Director at Victoria College. Her experience as a field medic has been diverse: rural, volunteer as an EMS Director to international, but spent most of her career with Val Verde Regional Medical Center and EMS (Del Rio) beginning in 1982. She worked as an EMT while going to college getting off shift at 0700 to drive 75 miles to make it to her fist class while attending Paramedic classes on the weekends. She would complete her BA from Sul Ross State University in six years. Susie is never one to miss a party and that includes classes.

In addition to the alphabet courses, most of which she teaches, she enjoys challenges such as high angle rescue, although she not fond of heights. Her love for the outdoors is posted on her office walls as a reminder to herself to re-create more often. Her Air Force family instilled in her to never hesitate to help where needed. In 1983, she was asked to be an AHA CPR instructor. She is currently Regional Faculty for AHA BLS, ACLS and PALS. She started teaching initial EMT classes in 1984 and became a coordinator when there was none. Somewhere along the way, she established a team of first-rate faculty that produced excellent outcomes in EMR to Paramedic classes.

Susie is passionate that the coordinator-student relationship is life-long and she never hesitates to continue as a mentor for graduates. One of her favorite interruptions is a call or text from a former student. Susie enjoys life; the wonder and excitement of exploring new experiences while preserving old friendships. She and her spouse spend colorful time with their families, especially her first biological grandson, Vince. Her goal is simple: “build an EMS learning environment that perpetuates past my lifetime to improve the next generation of EMS by producing competent and empathetic graduates.”

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Lou Ortiz

Involved in EMS and Fire Service for the last 21 years. Instructor for 16 years. Paramedic for 19 years. Currently a DSHS Advanced Coordinator at ProAction in El Paso.

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Scott Miles

I am the Paramedic professor for Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. It is my belief that the future of our industry will require highly educated, highly skilled, and highly motivated caregivers who can look beyond the status quo and envision a future where EMS sets the standard for all caregivers.

I believe it is the educators of our industry who will drive our industry forward. I am student focused, patient centered, and I am always seeking the “why” behind everything we do, not only as educators but as a provider as well!

I have 34 years of EMS experience, 20 years of EMS education experience, I am a dedicated lifelong learner, collaborative, and passionate about EMS!
We change lives “one student at a time!”

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Lisa Lozano, LP, EMSC

Hello, my name is Lisa Lozano, I was born in Indiana and raised in Louisville, Kentucky.
I joined the US Navy in 1988 which was the best decision of my life. Upon graduating Navy bootcamp, I was trained as a Machinist. I was stationed on the USS Samuel Gompers AD-37, a repair tender ship. During my time at sea I had the opportunity to travel the different countries to include Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Dubai, and United Emirates. I served during Operation Kuwaiti Freedom, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I finished my last three years in the Navy stationed at Great Lakes Naval Recruit Training Center in Great Lakes, IL where I served as a Drill Instructor before being Honorably Discharged in 1998.

After serving in the Navy, I worked as a supervisor for the 2000 Census Bureau where I oversaw three counties. Unsure of what career I wanted to pursue, I attended Laredo Community College and registered for courses for the EMT-Paramedic Program. I obtained my “License Paramedic” upon completion of the EMT-P Program.

In 2002, I was hired at Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio, Texas where I worked as a Paramedic on a 911 ambulance. During my time at VVRMC, I attained certifications in BLS, PALS, ACLS instructor and CPS Car Seat Technician for Safe Kids. I also assisted in teaching EMT classes from Basic to Paramedic. In 2014, I received my certification as a Texas EMS Coordinator. After receiving my certification, I coordinated several EMT-B classes in Del Rio, Texas and the surrounding areas.
Would have never guessed that my life would have headed in this direction, but here I am. Retired off the truck after 18 years and am now ready for my next chapter.

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Alex Stadthagen

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Kris Kern

Kris is a dedicated Licensed Paramedic of 34 years and college educator for 28 years. Currently, she is one of the Advanced Coordinator and the Clinical Coordinator at San Jacinto College.

Kris enjoys the opportunities to provide medical education on many fornts. In addition to her full-time teaching position, she has been a conference presenter at local, state, and nationwide conferences. Her classes are interactive and unique.

Over the past four years, Kris has added communication through personality diversity and medical error reduction to the curriculum at San Jacinto College. This p rogram has been incredibly successful. There has been a 93% reduction in medical errors in simulation.

Kris leads with integrity and the strong belief in service before self.

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April Page

April Page of Uvalde, Texas began her EMS career in 2001 as an EMT before becoming a Paramedic in 2005. She continued her EMS career as a full-time Paramedic until her employment with Southwest Texas Jr College in 2017.

Mrs. Page currently holds a DSHS Basic Coordinator license and has been invited to assist in instruction of U.S. Border Patrol EMT students on several occasions. During her employment with SWTJC, she recently obtained a degree in Associates of Arts, General Studies and plans to further her education in the near future.

Mrs. Page is a resourceful EMS Educator at Southwest Texas Jr College with 5 years of classroom instruction with drive and success within classroom and school operations. She creates an engaging learning environment for students, has experience with implementation of classroom instruction, lesson plans, and student assessment in conjunction with state and college regulations.
Mrs. Page is a mother of 4 children and a wife to a supportive spouse.