PEMBROKE — For Robeson Career and Technical Education Center EMT & Public Safety Instructor Jonathan Bell, preparing students for careers in emergency medical services involves more than teaching technical skills. It also means helping students develop the confidence, compassion and respect necessary to care for others.

Bell brings 33 years of experience in his career field and 19 years in education to Robeson CTEC. His own journey into emergency medical services began while he was still a high school student.

“I started my EMS education during my senior year in high school as a part-time job for college,” Bell said.

His passion for the field led him to earn his Paramedic certification. After discovering how much he enjoyed sharing his knowledge with coworkers, Bell became a certified EMS instructor in 1998.

Bell soon realized that education provided another way for him to make an impact on patient care by preparing both new and experienced EMTs. When an opportunity became available to teach high school students at the Robeson County Career Center, he embraced the chance to introduce young people to the profession.

“It has been a very rewarding journey to teach young minds about EMS,” Bell said.

One of the most meaningful parts of that journey is seeing students recognize their own abilities.

“To see the confidence built in a student during the course excites me the most,” he said.

While Bell wants students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in emergency services, he also emphasizes qualities that are essential when caring for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

For Bell, seeing his students step into the profession as compassionate caregivers who treat every patient with dignity, respect and understanding is the realization of what he hopes to accomplish as an educator. 

Bell believes Robeson CTEC represents a commitment to giving students opportunities to pursue their educational and career goals while developing skills that can serve them for years to come.

For Bell, being part of that process is particularly meaningful.

“It’s a privilege to be part of a student’s journey of discovery,” he said.