“A strong program requires a strong educational foundation. Dedicated and passionate instructors, along with supportive ancillary staff, are essential because everyone plays a vital role in this process.” 

When Samantha Grimsley was named the 2024 Texas EMS Educator of the Year, her first thought was simple: They must have made a mistake. “I thought they had the wrong person,” she admits. But to the people who know her best—her colleagues and students—it was obvious why she was chosen. She doesn’t just teach EMS. She reimagines how it’s done. 

As the program director at Weatherford College in Texas, Grimsley has built a reputation for setting high expectations, offering demanding hands-on training, and fostering a deep sense of community. Her path from paramedic to award-winning educator is proof that great teachers don’t just prepare students for a job—they prepare them for a life-changing profession. 

From the Field to the Classroom 

In 2006, fresh out of high school, Grimsley stepped into her first EMS class. What started as a career path quickly turned into a calling. She became an EMT, then a paramedic, and eventually a field instructor. She’s been the rookie terrified on her first call. She’s been the experienced medic making split-second decisions. And now, she’s the educator ensuring her students are ready for both. 

“I’ve dabbled in just about every area of medicine you possibly could,” she says. “That helps me answer their questions and point them in the right direction—whether they want to work on ambulances, go into flight medicine, or do hospital care.”

EMS is tough. Grimsley can’t sugarcoat things as mistakes have real consequences. A missed symptom, a delayed decision, or a moment of hesitation can mean everything. From day one, she makes sure her students feel that responsibility. 

Her approach is simple: If they can handle the pressure in training, they’ll be ready when the real moment comes. 

A New Approach to EMS Education 

A lecture can only teach so much. A PowerPoint presentation won’t teach a student’s hands to stop shaking when they have to start an IV in the back of a moving ambulance. That’s why Grimsley’s students don’t just sit in a classroom. They’re in hospitals, firehouses, and ambulance shifts, treating real patients under real pressures. 

For every question a student asks, she doesn’t just give an answer—she gives them a scenario, a real-world case that forces them to think. “I don’t want them just passing an exam,” she says. “I want them stepping into their first call with confidence.” 

The program at Weatherford College isn’t about checking boxes to pass a test. It’s about creating EMS professionals who can walk into their first shift knowing they belong there. “We’re not just training EMTs and paramedics, we’re building a family,” she says. From the first day, she emphasizes teamwork, problem-solving, and pushing past the bare minimum. “Once you walk through this door, we take care of one another.” 

Known as the “mom” of the program, she keeps her door open—whether it’s to talk through an academic struggle, a personal challenge, or the weight of their first tough call. She answers emails at midnight, takes phone calls from graduates on their first shifts, and makes sure no one in her program feels alone. 

Grimsley’s work also doesn’t end when the class bell rings. She regularly brings together EMS program directors from across North Texas, sharing ideas and tackling industry-wide challenges like recruitment and retention. 

“I try to shake them up a little,” Grimsley shares. “I call it the fear factor because I want them to understand—this job isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. One day, someone might hand you their baby who isn’t breathing, and in that moment, it’s all on you.” 

Pushing for High Standards 

EMS isn’t a profession where “good enough” is an option. Grimsley is a fierce advocate of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (National Registry) and emphasizes the importance of maintaining national certification. She knows certification isn’t just a formality—it’s a safeguard for both providers and the public. 

“It’s not just about passing a test,” she says. “The National Registry sets the bar for what’s expected in this field. It ensures EMS providers are ready for the job and can protect the public.” 

Beyond that, she believes national certification makes the profession stronger. It creates consistency across EMS programs, allowing providers to move between states or agencies without gaps in training. High standards don’t just help individuals, they push the whole field forward. 

As an item writer for the National Registry, she plays a direct role in shaping those standards, helping to craft exam questions that reflect the real challenges EMTs and paramedics will face in the field. 

A Lasting Legacy 

For Grimsley, nothing beats graduation day. Watching her students walk across the stage, she doesn’t just see future EMTs and paramedics. She sees people ready to handle the toughest days of someone’s life. 

“Seeing how far they’ve come and knowing the difference they’ll make—that’s why I do this,” she says. 

But her influence doesn’t stop there. Many of her former students return as instructors or preceptors, training the next wave of EMS professionals. Some check in with career updates, seeking advice as they move forward. Others run into her on calls, now experienced paramedics guiding fresh recruits—just like she once did. 

She knows EMS education is about more than skills. It’s about building a mindset—one that values teamwork, adaptability, and the drive to be better every day. EMS is unpredictable. It changes constantly. That mindset is what keeps it strong. 
As the field faces staffing shortages and evolving demands, educators like Grimsley are essential. She’s not just training students for a job. She’s preparing them for a career where every second counts, and every call is a chance to change a life. 

EMS needs professionals who push limits, demand better, and refuse to settle. Grimsley isn’t just answering that call, she’s making sure the next generation is ready to do the same. 

Read More Articles In The Critical Connection Series
Chief Visser’s- Lifelong Learning and Global Service: Chief Michael Visser’s Journey in EMS 
James Avery - "An Unexpected Destiny - How One EMS Provider Discovered Sometimes Fate Has Other Plans"
Randy Brinckman - "From Special Forces to a special career"
Jessica Cervantez - "Be A Rock In The Moment People Are Falling Apart"
Savanna Coker - "Waves of change: A departure from the Baywatch narrative"
Claire Countryman & Chris Ruggiero - "The next chapter could save a life"
John Nemes - "The journey of an EMS chief"
Tom Perreault - "43 Years Down and a Lifetime to Go"
Justin Solobay - "A Night To Remember"
Meryah Wilson - "Calm and collected; an Ohio paramedic makes history with her city’s department"
Bill Wood -  "50 Consecutive Years Of National Registry Certification"


Media Contact:
Shane Cartmill
Public Relations and Media Manager    
scartmill@nremt.org