BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — The start of the 2026-2027 school year started off with a more-exciting-than-normal lunch period at a north Georgia school.
Third grade student Jeran was eating a hamburger when he took too big of a bite and started choking.
Bartow County School officials said Kingston Elementary School Assistant Principal Dr. Mary Payne was able to get to him in time and performed the Heimlich maneuver, saving his life.
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“For the last seven or so years, while I’ve been here, we’ve received district training on lifesaving measures, but I never thought I’d have to use what I learned,” Payne said.
But it wasn’t just Payne.
The assistant principal would never have come over had it not been for Ashley Gibbs, a teacher monitoring the students during lunch.
When she saw Jeran holding his neck, she got Payne right away.
Bartow County Schools said Payne and Gibbs’ “quick actions and calm response turned what could have been a tragedy into a story with a happy ending.”
As for Jeran? He said he’s thankful that he got help and is looking forward to football practice.
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