Friday, August 28, 2009

This workshop is specifically designed for Instructors who teach courses leading to National Certification Exams. Information in this course applies to all processes and exams; however, it will focus on Fire Fighter I and II certification exam processes. Within this workshop instructors will be given a unique look at the processes, materials and rationale behind testing firefighters for national certification. Through this "unique look," instructors will develop a better understanding of how to prepare firefighters for the exam processes. Topics covered in this workshop are:

How and why written and skills exams are designed the way they are.

• The interaction of the NFPA Standard, the referenced text and the course curriculum.
• How to give your students the "inside track" on passing the certification exam.
• Study strategies for students preparing for the certification exam.
• The differences between what students MUST know and what they "ought to know."
• Questions to be answered and misconceptions to be clarified:
• What’s tested and what’s not tested in certification exams?
• Why do Fire Fighter I and II change so frequently?
• What role does the instructor play in the certification process?
• Why are there so many rules and requirements for certification?
• What good is national certification to my students?
• … and many more.

This presentation will apply to all Kansas Fire Service Instructors, whether they are new or experienced; volunteer or career; train exclusively for their department and/or for outside agencies. It will take the instructor from the preparation required before the first class meeting, through review of the curriculum, delivery of the knowledge component, practice of the skills component, and through the design and execution of national certification testing.

Glenn Pribbenow is Director of the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute. Before joining the KF&RTI, he was the Field Delivery and Certification Program Manager at the Iowa Fire Service Institute. Before going to Iowa, Glenn was the Manager of Programs at Oklahoma State University. Included in his responsibilities was the Certification Program. Glenn has been involved in the development and delivery of National Certification programs for firefighters since the mid 1980s. Glenn also served as a charter member of the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress Board of Governors and served on a sub-committee of the NFPA Correlating Committee addressing issues with the Professional Qualifications series of standards (including Fire Fighter I and II).

Glenn brings a wealth of knowledge and 25 years of experience and understanding related to design, development and administration of national certification programs to this workshop. Glenn served as a volunteer and a career firefighter prior to joining the state training program in Oklahoma. Glenn holds an A.A.S. degree in Fire Science and a bachelor’s degree in Technical Education from Oklahoma State University. During his fire department career, Glenn certified as a Fire Fighter I & II, Instructor I & II, and Fire Officer I.

Dave Couvelha is Certification Program Manager at Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute. Before joining the KF&RTI Dave was a Field Instructor and taught numerous Fire Fighter I and II classes. During that time, Dave’s students achieved a very high passing rate at the certification exams. Dave served in the US Army as an officer for 20 years and retired as a Major. His service included tours of duty in Germany as a Missile Battery Commander and as Operations Officer in Desert Storm. Dave has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and Portuguese Language from the US Military Academy at West Point, and a master’s degree in Adult and Continuing Education from Kansas State University.

Dave serves on the Site Team Committee for the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and has served on other IFSAC committees addressing national certification issues. Dave has also developed test banks and served on other select committees conducting test bank reviews for multiple fire service publishers. Dave brings a diverse background of experience and technical expertise to this workshop.

Dave served more than 19 years with the Delaware Township Fire Department and Leavenworth County Fire District Number 1 in Lansing where he also served as Training Officer. He was also the Captain of the Leavenworth County Water Rescue and Technical Services Team. During his career, Dave has certified as a Fire Fighter I & II, Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations, Fire Officer I, Instructor I & II, and Structural Collapse Technician. Dave maintains his state EMT certification.

Line of Duty Death (LODD) training seems so difficult to accept. Captain Bob Gallardy, a veteran instructor was critically burned at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy (PSFA) on October 23, 2005. His death two days later and the NIOSH report that followed will be explained in this powerful presentation by Instructor Tim Archer from the PSFA. Additionally, Instructor Archer will discuss the tests and reports done by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the PSFA and in Florida after a training LODD.

Timothy Archer began his fire service career in 1984. Two years later, he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Fire Protection Specialist. During his Air Force career he was stationed at Yokota Air Base Japan, Andrews Air Force Base, MD, and RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom. Before being honorably discharged, Instructor Archer served in many fire department positions up through the rank of Assistant Chief.

Instructor Archer is certified as a Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor II, Fire Investigator II, Fire Inspector II, and Airport Firefighter. He has also earned an associate degree in Fire Science. He is currently pursuing a degree in Adult Education.

In 1997, Instructor Archer began working for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections as a Corrections Institutional Safety Manager where one of his primary duties was the training and supervision of an emergency response team. During the same time, he also served as an adjunct instructor at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy. He helped to develop several Rapid Intervention Teams programs for use as part of the Academy on the Road curriculum.

In 2006, Instructor Archer was hired full time at the PSFA as a resident instructor. In addition to classroom responsibilities he supervises 80 part-time instructors and manages the logistical issues for resident, on-campus programs.

Never has there been a better time to change the culture of the fire service. As a profession, we are at a critical point; and today is the day to make necessary changes in your department to reduce the threat of "Line of Duty Deaths" and make sure Everyone Goes Home®. LODD’s are not decreasing and a cultural change is imperative if we are going to succeed. This change starts with each of us, regardless of rank or tenure. During this interactive presentation, the class will discuss how to be a change agent for your department. The topics that will be examined include, The Learning Cycle for Establishing a Safe Culture, Defining a Teaching Department, The Everyone Goes Home Life Safety Initiatives and Cultural Change , and most importantly , the Role of Fire Personnel in the Process. Cultural change in the fire service is your job! Start today, so Everyone Goes Home.

Ryan Pyle is a Fire Captain at Station 71 in Shawnee, Kansas. Ryan has been a part of the department for thirteen years. He holds an Associate of Arts degree in Fire Administration, a bachelor’s degree in Management and Human Relations, and a master’s degree from the Edwin Stene School of Public Administration at the University of Kansas. Ryan is a graduate of the 2007 Virginia Fire Officers Academy, which is a program that includes leadership values associated with the Everyone Goes Home® Life Safety Initiatives Program and is a nationally trained teacher for the Everyone Goes Home® Life Safety Initiatives. Ryan has been accepted into the Executive Fire Officer Program and will begin in September.