Paraeducator nominated after performing life-saving CPR at McGruder High School

Aaron McFarland, a paraeducator and student support specialist at McGruder High School, was nominated for recognition after responding to a staff member’s cardiac arrest, according to remarks made at the meeting. An administrator who nominated him said he immediately called for help and began CPR, and that the staff member has suffered no permanent lasting health effects.

The nomination was introduced by an unnamed administrator, who said, “I nominated Aaron because he’s such an impactful part of [the school].” The nominator recounted that during a student-staff basketball game a staff member collapsed, and Aaron went into the office, found the colleague in cardiac arrest, called for help and started CPR. The nominator later added, “As an administrator, I wish everyone had a Mister McFarland in their building.”

In brief remarks, the nominee described his role and what the recognition meant to him. He said he works as a student support specialist and follows Montgomery County expectations for the role but noted that “it’s different for every child, and we never know when that kid needs support.” He added that the nomination signaled respect from his colleagues and that being respected “is what matters.”

The meeting transcript records the nomination and the account of the emergency response but does not include a formal vote or a stated prize or award tied to the nomination. A nominator used the surname “McFarland” when referring to the nominee; the record supplies the given name Aaron and uses "Mr. McFarland" in praise but does not provide a separate, full on-record introduction with a written last name pairing beyond those references. The nominator said the rescued staff member has not suffered lasting health effects.

The meeting moved on after the praise and there was no recorded formal action in the provided segment to indicate a decision on the nomination.