Nearly 50 juniors in Tyler ISD’s Health Science program are one step closer to their dreams of working in healthcare after participating in a high-tech, hands-on CPR certification exam at the district’s Career & Technology Center (CTC). Using cutting-edge medical simulation tools, including HAL—an advanced, AI-powered robotic mannequin—students completed life-saving procedures in a clinical environment that mirrors real-world hospital settings.
The immersive exam tested students’ CPR and patient care skills through realistic emergency scenarios. Participants rotated through skill stations, performing two-rescuer Basic Life Support (BLS) techniques on adult and infant mannequins while incorporating the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The assessment emphasized proper sequencing, clinical decision-making, and teamwork under pressure.
The highlight of the event was HAL, a sophisticated robotic mannequin capable of simulating lifelike symptoms such as seizures, cardiac arrest, facial expressions, and even sweating—technology typically reserved for college-level training.
“It is very cool working with HAL,” said Tyler High senior Jaci Giles. “I feel like this prepares me for the future because I want to be a nurse practitioner. This gives me the experience I would receive in college; it’s like clinicals but on a mannequin!”
Students also participated in complex clinical case simulations in the Patient Care Technician (PCT) class, guided by their teacher, Ms. Cerda, who brings real-world nursing experience to the classroom.
“I came from the nursing field, so I feel like I have brought in some personal stories and scenarios to help the students reenact hospital-like cases,” Cerda said. “We can make HAL do just about anything we’d like. We practice safety scenarios, and today we got to do a seizure scenario on safety precautions. This is as close as we can get to real life without using real people. Most high schoolers are not offered a patient care tech class, let alone have the mannequins that can do real-life scenarios.”
For Tyler Legacy senior Kylie Broumley, the experience is shaping her future plans: “I plan on attending Texas Tech and majoring in kinesiology,” she said. “Tyler ISD is preparing me for my medical journey with this cool experience to work on HAL. Not every high school can provide such a hands-on experience.”
With opportunities to earn CPR and EKG certifications as juniors, these Health Science students are already building resumes that set them apart for internships, volunteer roles, and advanced training programs such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Patient Care Technician (PCT), Medical Assistant (MA), and Pharmacy Technician (PharmTech).
This advanced training opportunity is part of Tyler ISD’s commitment to career readiness, offering students a powerful head start in the ever-evolving world of healthcare.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.