Campus supervisor saves student’s life

12/3/08

Michael Lopez’s body moved quicker than even he could imagine as he lunged to save a student’s life. Lopez, a campus supervision leader at Glendale High School, made a heroic effort in preventing a distraught student from jumping to her death.

The September day was just like any other for Lopez, who was watching over the campus at lunchtime. Near the end of the break, Lopez and a campus police officer received a call over the walkie-talkie that a female student was on the third-floor balcony of a building on campus getting ready to jump.

“We ran through the quad and up three flights of stairs,” Lopez said.

When Lopez and the officer reached the balcony, they saw the student standing on the ledge, her hand touching a nearby wall for balance. Lopez said he turned to the officer and asked, “Do you want me to grab her?” Just as he looked back, Lopez saw the student’s hand come off the wall. It was then that he realized it was time to act.

“I lunged and grabbed the back of her pants,” Lopez said. “I pulled her toward me onto the balcony and to safety.”

The student was taken to the hospital for observation and counselors quickly responded to talk with distraught students. Lopez said the whole incident left an indelible mark on him.

“It made a big emotional impact on my life. It affected me quite a bit,” said Lopez, a member of Glendale Chapter 3, who was proud to have a positive effect on the student. “I don’t really feel like a hero. I’m just here to do my job. This incident was something I’ve never had to deal with in my 18 years at Glendale High.”

The school district honored Lopez for his heroism. And the best part—the student was not injured and is doing well. Lopez said the student and her father visited the school about a month after the incident to thank him and the police officer.

“She looked really happy. Following the incident, I kept in contact and followed how she was doing,” Lopez said. “It’s changed me that I made a positive impact on this girl’s life. I helped her out.”

As a campus supervision leader, Lopez said he looks after the safety of students everyday. He said one of the most important things to do to maintain safety on campus is to listen to the students. Lopez said they always know what’s happening on campus and when an incident could erupt.

“They relay information to me that they wouldn’t tell to a teacher, administrator or police officer,” he said.

Lopez said that some people on campus don’t realize the significance of the services he provides on campus, but he noted that the same people certainly would notice if he weren’t there to maintain order and safety.

“People think I just monitor gates, but I talk to students, I get information from them and I help them,” Lopez said. “There’s a lot that people don’t know goes on at the school.”

Lopez said he works very closely with his fellow classified employees, who keep a watchful eye on students.

“Classified staff helps out tremendously,” Lopez said. “They’ll help out with anything that has to do with safety. It’s a team effort.”