Hannum School Principal Helps Choking Child with Calm Control

Hannum School second grader Kurtis Smith didn’t seem like himself when Principal Anne Marie McGovern entered the cafeteria one day earlier this month, and she soon realized Kurtis was choking on his meat.

McGovern acted swiftly, taking Kurtis away from the full cafeteria and bringing him to her office to relax. He was able to swallow the food that was stuck, and McGovern let him finish his lunch in her office.

It’s not the call any parent wants to receive from their child’s school, but Kurtis’ mother, Jenni Simpson, said she didn’t even have time to worry because of McGovern’s calm, cool honesty and her total control in the situation.

“At first I thought ‘He’s sick,’ and then ‘Oh what did he do?’ and then ‘Is he okay?’” Simpson said of the thoughts that rushed through her mind when the principal called. “But once Mrs. McGovern had said ‘We’re going to finish lunch together’ I thought, ‘Oh my God, that is the best thing she could do, is to be there for him.’”

Simpson said she’s grateful her child is in McGovern’s capable hands, and he was able to recover without making a scene in front of the other children in the cafeteria.

“It was the best thing she could have done because she took him away from the situation,” Simpson said. “No other kids panicked, she didn’t panic when she called me, and I didn’t have time to panic because she had everything under control.”

Simpson wanted to spread the word to other parents about the good judgement and quick thinking the principal showed. She said this situation helped her realize how safe her son and the other children are in a school with responsible leaders like McGovern.

“When you’re a parent and you’re not there for your children, it’s scary,” Simpson said. “But when you realize how safe they are with a principal like Mrs. McGovern, you’re more at ease. That makes it a lot easier.”

Photo of Kurtis Smith provided by Jenni Simpson.

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