NEWINGTON - The Board of Education (BOE) is recognizing a security officer who sprang into action to save a choking student in the Martin Kellogg Middle School cafeteria.

       The incident occurred on October 25, as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maureen Brummett was giving Board of Education (BOE) members a tour of the facility -- they say they had just entered the lunchroom when the student began choking.

       They say school staffers immediately alerted Security Officer Wayne Corriveau, who rushed to perform the Heimlich Maneuver while other employees -- including Kellogg School Nurse Ishprit Kaur -- provided response support and kept bystanders clear.

       “It was unbelievable that we happened to be there when this all transpired. I punched in 911. I tried to cancel it because they had it all under control [so fast],” Brummett said. “They responded exactly as we’d hope they would, and I really think our students have their lives to thank them for, for such an immediate and appropriate response. Other staff jumped into action. Managed it well, closing the cafeteria doors so it wouldn’t be a big spectacle.”

       Richard Lavariere, one of the Board members on tour that day, said he was so moved by what he saw, that he nominated Corriveau and Kaur for the district’s “Everyday Hero” award -- given to Newington Public Schools (NPS) staffers that go above and beyond in their roles.

       “This happened maybe less than a minute after we arrived. It was quite a remarkable thing to witness,” Lavariere said. “If I was in that position, I don’t know if I would’ve known what to do. It shows we have really special people working for Newington Public Schools, and I really appreciate everything you do for the school system.”

       Kaur not only assisted with the October 25 response but handled a similar situation a few weeks prior.

       Both were recognized at the Board’s November 16 meeting.

       “Wayne and Ish were literally saving lives. The rest of the staff that were involved made sure students stayed away and that other people weren’t traumatized,” said BOE member Amy Perrotti, another tour attendee who witnessed the incident. “Just all around, everybody, thank you.”

       “Thank you so much for everything. To see you react so quickly was amazing,” added BOE member Anastasia Yopp, who was also on hand to witness it. “It’s just an amazing feeling knowing all the kids are safe. You are definitely a hero.”

       Corriveau himself made only brief remarks, sharing the credit with all the staffers that responded that day.

       “I’m glad everything went down the way it did,” Corriveau said. “I thank my partners, especially [World Language teacher] Elsa Batista, who was right there -- she was the first one to belt out a tune calling my name -- and [Grade 8 teacher] Stacie Damiana, and I thank [Assistant Principal] Kevin Doran, and especially Ish. Without them, I don’t know if it would have the same outcome. I thank you guys for the nomination.”

       Kaur expressed similar sentiments -- she said the support of Martin Kellogg staff and supervisors helped her unpack the emotional toll of both incidents.

       “I’m just super humbled to be here, as a healthcare personnel to receive this kind of acknowledgement is very rare. I just feel very seen and supported and part of the Newington Public School district,” Kaur said. “To be able to go through kind of traumatic things like that and then be able to call my supervisor immediately and be supported by the staff is an amazing feeling and makes us do our job better.”

       Newington High School (NHS) senior Jim Vendetti attended the November 16 Board meeting as a liaison -- he thanked the responders on behalf of the district’s student body.

       “I say thank you, because we don’t say thank you enough,” Vendetti said. “If you weren’t there, things would have gone very differently. It really is humbling.”