Teacher used CPR to save Queens kid

A QUEENS teacher went beyond her math lessons to perform CPR on an unconscious student in a heroic on-campus act, earning the adoration of a grateful school community.

Amy Spears, 45, a seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher at Louis Armstrong Middle School in East Elmhurst, displayed quick thinking and bravery in her Oct. 20 actions that saved the life of a sixth-grader who had stopped breathing and was suffering cardiac arrest.

For her fearless dedication to her students and ability to think on her feet, Spears (photo) is nominated for a Hometown Heroes in Education award.

The 22-year city educator was teaching just after lunch period, when three students appeared in her classroom doorway asking for help. The kids, who had spotted Spears through her open classroom door, told the popular math teacher their friend needed help.

Just down the hall from Spears’ classroom, Melanie Fana was laying on her side on the floor. She was turning blue amid an apparent convulsion. Spears spotted the stricken student — and ran.

“When it happened, it just happened, it was something I just did,” she said. The teacher immediately called for help and began doing CPR on the girl.

Meanwhile, other staff began to arrive, and Melanie’s friends rushed down the hall to alert the principal and call 911.

Spears said she acted from instinct and couldn’t comprehend the gravity of the moment. “When EMS came, I felt like I was just going to fall, because I didn’t realize what was going on until they came,” Spears said. “The assistant principal sat next to me and just told me, ‘You can do it, you can do it.’ ” Spears began performing CPR and used a defibrillator on Melanie with the help of teacher’s aide Michael Lopez. “After I took the CPR training, I was a little nervous about whether I would be able to do it, in a crisis. . . . I’m glad I could,” she said. Spears said she later learned Melanie uses a pacemaker. The device had failed, causing her to suffer cardiac arrest. She’s still amazed she was able to save the girl. “If you asked if I could do that before it happened, I would’ve said no,” said Spears. “She visits me every single day to get her hug in for the day,” Spears said of the grateful student. “I’m just so thankful that she’s OK.”