River Ferguson

Students in Mr. Opalka's class pose for a class photo. The EMR class is split into two class periods, which is a great start for its first year!

Emergency Medical Response, better known as EMR, is one of Pembroke Pines Charter High School’s (PPCHS) newest classes. Taught by Mr. Opalka and Captain March, the purpose of this class is to provide students with hands-on experience surrounding medical work, regardless of their dreams. Whether they aspire to be a firefighter, nurse, or an emergency medical technician (EMT), PPCHS’s EMR class offers a unique lens into the medical field. 

Just a few years back, PPCHS had quite a few graduates who went on to pursue firefighter careers. Last year, Principal Bayer and Mr. Opalka, a former firefighter of 33 years who spent 18 years as the Miami-Dade airport fire chief, got approval from the Pembroke Pines Fire Chief Marcelino Rodriguez to start the EMR class.

“The students and the fire department were excited. This class helps teach students very practical skills that they can use in their lives and future careers,” says Mr. Opalka. 

The EMR class not only teaches practical life-saving skills to its students but also takes a real approach to learning. Students practice “packaging patients,” a process where a patient is secured to a device, or in this case, a classmate is strapped to a stretcher, simulating an emergency scenario. On other days, students wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while learning what situations would require PPE.

“That’s why I love the EMR class. It’s my most hands-on class [I’ve taken]. It’s great to have a class that prepares me for emergency situations,” says sophomore Elyssa Mitts.

With a Pembroke Pines Fire Captain as the instructor, the EMR class has the liberty to go on many exciting field trips, ranging from the fire department training facility to hospitals. 

What also makes the class unique is the teacher’s style. Committed to the course, Mr. Opalka consistently adapts to make the class the best it can be. “We have monthly messages that talk about life and practical advice for each other, [creating] a very open class. We are, in a way, like a family, which reflects how it is in the medical field,” states Mr. Opalka. 

Mr. Opalka, Captain March, and all the students of EMR strive towards the purpose of the class: to be a positive force in their community. Both Mr. Opalka and Captain March believe that this class is going to help students fulfill their aspiring dreams in the medical field, whatever that may be.

Reflecting on this journey, Mr. Opalka says, “I retired in 2008. I’m here because I want to help my students fulfill their potential. In all my years of life, I’ve never found the ability to have as much of an impact on people’s lives as you do as a classroom teacher. Teaching is such an important position, and I hold it in the highest esteem.”