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ISFSI Member Spotlight: Amanda Hoade

By Emily Stephens posted 07-31-2024 13:33

  

1. Tell us about yourself and why you decided to join the fire service

I joined the fire service at the age of 14. I joined the Upper Gwynedd Township Fire Department as a junior firefighter as something to do with my dad and fell in love with it. July will mark 20 years for me as a volunteer, where I currently serve as President and Chief Engineer. Professionally, I am currently the Rescue Training Coordinator at the Montgomery County Fire Academy.

2. Who or what has inspired you as a fire instructor

My background is in education. I taught in the special education field for 5 years. I realized that being in the school system wasn’t where I wanted to be my entire career and started looking hard into what I was truly passionate about. I went full time into fire and EMS and started working on my credentials to be a local level instructor through the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.  I got to combine the two things I loved to do; teaching and emergency services. In the last few years, I also became a state EMS Instructor.

3. What are some things you are working on in your department and how can others learn from that

I am always working on bettering myself; as a leader, responder, provider, instructor so that I can better serve others. I believe in ‘be teachable; you’re not always right’. I don’t know everything, and I think there is a sense of trust to be instilled on those who you lead when you can look them in the face and say “I don’t know that answer but I’m going to go find out and we are all going to learn something and then share that knowledge.”

4. Tell us about a project or training accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career

I think I am still working on that! To date, I think building a professional reputation as Montgomery County’s first female Chief Engineer has been one that I have been working on since 2017. I am a second-generation Chief Engineer in my family. To date, I have built 2 trucks for my department and taught many hours of pump training, both formally and informally. Having departments reach out requesting me as an instructor tells me I’ve done a good job getting my name out as an instructor who can provide the training and knowledge they’re looking for. I want to continue to grow on that and in my position at the Fire Academy.

5. What do you hope to accomplish as a fire service instructor

My career goal is to eventually be the director of the Fire Academy. I haven’t been in my current position very long, so in the short term, I would like to continue to build myself as a well-rounded professional. I would like to get to the point where I can sit on some committees or boards regarding curriculum. I would like to build a program for educating responders on different disabilities that they will encounter with the public and how to better navigate interactions with those individuals.
 
6. What is the biggest change you have noticed in the fire service since you started

In the last 20 years, the biggest change I have seen, from a volunteer perspective, is in the younger generation coming in; there are fewer junior firefighters in most departments now. I think it is important that we continue to have our doors open to these young kids. The ones that come in young and get hooked on fire, stay for a very long time. They become the next leaders of our departments. My opinion is that we have an easier time keeping the kids that come in at 14 and 15 than the ones that come in at 18 and 19. They forge strong friendships, learn valuable skills, have an entire department of “big brothers and sisters” supporting them, and become confident young adults. Even as we move towards more career-driven departments and away from 100% volunteer, we need to keep these young people involved.

7. What is something that most people don’t know about you

Most people in the fire service don’t realize that I have a horse and have been around large animals since I was 5. She is 28 and I have had her since she was 2. She lives the easy, retired life now. I would love to get more involved with large animal technical rescue and also just teaching first responders about handling large animals in emergencies.

8. If you could choose your title (other than the generic Training Officer or Firefighter) that uniquely describes you in your position, what would it be and why

I have too many titles as it is between my professional and volunteer life!

9. And finally, what advice do you have to give another instructor or to somebody who is just starting out as an instructor

Keep taking classes with different instructors. Everyone teaches slightly different, and you may find something to work into your own presentations and courses that you teach. Build a network of people you can go to for advice and help. Advocate for your students’ needs to help them succeed. And lastly, my favorite line: Stay Classy

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