A split moment decision by a Krum ISD teacher on Thursday saved the life of one of her students.

Carly Jane Lovelace, an English teacher at Krum High School, was teaching her class Thursday morning when one of her students jumped from her chair in a panic.

"We were in chapter two of a novel. We were so into it you could have heard a pin drop in the room and then the next thing I knew my student is up," said Lovelace.

The student ran into the hallway but was quickly followed by her teacher.

"If I hadn't taken the time to know her behaviors, her facial expressions, and her mood day to day, I wouldn't have known in that instant something was majorly wrong," Lovelace said.

SAVING A CHOKING CHILD

Lovelace immediately wrapped her arms around the student and began performing the Heimlich maneuver.

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"In the moment, I was just emotionless, I had tunnel vision, I knew what had to be done and the goal was to get whatever was in there out," she said.

After several attempts, the cap of a water bottle finally dislodged and flew across the floor, then the student collapsed into Lovelace's arms.

STUDENT AND TEACHER 'HUG IT OUT'

Texas Teacher Jumps Into Action to Save Choking Student

"She needed to cry, she needed a big 'momma hug' and I needed it too," Lovelace said. "We just needed to hold each other and say this happened, it's over and it's going to be OK."

"Mrs. Lovelace's instant action is truly heroic," said Krum ISD Superintendent Dr. Jason Cochran. "Seeing this student embrace Mrs. Lovelace for so long after being saved is inspiring to me and inspiring to others in the profession; that relationship right there is why teachers come into this profession."

NOT LOVELACE'S FIRST TIME USING HEIMLICH

Lovelace used to teach preschool and not only had training on Heimlich but also experienced using it to help younger students years prior.

"This is the first time the child was taller than me," said Lovelace.

The student speaks Spanish primarily and Lovelace told her in Spanish they would always be family.

"This could have easily gone a different way, I'm glad we both weren't hurt," said Lovelace.

The student received the proper medical attention by the school nurse and is doing OK.

Updated at 2:45 p.m. Saturday: with additional information throughout.

Students and parents gathered before Krum High School's football game Friday, not to support the team but to denounce the school’s administration after a beloved assistant principal was let go under mysterious circumstances.

Krum High School administrator Bernard Lightfoot was asked to resign by Monday — and threatened with firing if he didn't — after he confronted administrators whose relatives saw sudden and unprecedented improvement in their class rankings, students and parents say.

Parent Ruth Pierson said that several students, including one of her children, were called out of class to sign nondisclosure waivers without their parents’ knowledge or consent.

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Krum Mayor Ron Harris, who has a child enrolled at the school, began to read a statement on the matter at Wednesday's board meeting but was interrupted by the board president, he wrote in a Facebook post.

“With no nepotism policy present in the KISD employee online handbook, it appears that the current daily operations could better be described as a family reunion,” Harris wrote. “There is the perception of myself and other members of this community ... that the children related to high-ranking district employees and school board members are being placed in positions that have been unrightfully gained.”

Neither Krum High principal Michelle Pieniazek nor assistant principal Shanna Orsi could be reached for comment, but the superintendent released a statement saying the allegations have prompted a review of district policies.

“While we do not believe there have been any unethical uses of administrative power, we will be conducting an audit of our procedures and policies and how they are being applied,” Krum ISD Superintendent Cody Carroll said in a written statement.

Students say ranking discrepancies reflect unprecedented weight given to certain extracurricular activities, effectively penalizing students for choosing band or sports.

The rankings are a key component of college applications, showing how seniors stack up against their peers. Tuition waivers cover public-college tuition for freshman students who graduate at the tops of their classes.

But even if the allegations of grade tampering are false, the board violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by voting on Lightfoot's dismissal behind closed doors, Harris said. Harris contacted the Texas Education Agency about the possibility of an investigation but has not yet filed a formal complaint.

The board said their concern had to do with Lightfoot's application, which reportedly did not accurately reflect which degrees he had earned at each of the higher education institutions he had attended.

Lightfoot, who attended West Point, taught social studies and coached soccer and football at Sam Houston High School in Arlington before moving to Krum High in Denton County in 2016. In addition to his work at the school, he coached several children's sports teams. He could not be reached for comment.

Several students backed Lightfoot on Twitter, posting memes tagged #bringbacklightfoot, sharing memories of the administrator and telling classmates that the nondisclosure agreements some signed shouldn’t be legally binding.

“The compassion and love that he showed me was insane,” senior Michael Cater said. “He came my sophomore year and after that, I had no [disciplinary] issues.”

Michael's mother, Kasie Cater, said she steered clear of the principal at Krum High.

“I generally just did everything I could not to have to deal with [Pieniazek] and to deal with Mr. Lightfoot instead,” Cater said.

A follow-up news release from Krum ISD asked community members to refrain from "increasingly hostile and hurtful" social media posts as they wait for the audit's results.

Over 200 people now sport #SAVELIGHTFOOT shirts, organizer Stephanie Powell said, and community members plan to rally around the school when classes begin again Tuesday morning.

A person close to Krum High School Assistant Principal Bernard Lightfoot said he's been given until Monday to resign.

KRUM, Texas — Rumors centered around the Krum ISD and the future of one of its beloved high school assistant principals is dividing the small community of Krum.

The 5,000-or-so people who live in Krum usually describe their community as closely knit, but this week, "divided" is the word some are using instead. "In a town as small as Krum, you can imagine that there are rumors flying everywhere, going in every direction," said parent Stephanie Powell.

"I feel like he was targeted by the administration...for bringing it up," said Mayor Ron Harris. "I really do."

Harris is one of the many parents backing assistant principal Bernard Lightfoot. Lightfoot reportedly went to his bosses recently with student concerns that other students, who are related to administration and school board members, might be unfairly jumping ahead in class rankings.

Now, people are worried Lightfoot may lose his job over it.

Superintendent Cody Carroll put out a letter this week saying he doesn't believe there have been any unethical uses of power, but they'll launch an audit anyway. He then sent another letter asking people to stop making attacks on social media about this case.

Meantime, a person close to Lightfoot says he's been told he needs to either resign by Monday or he'll be fired. Superintendent Carroll did not respond to our requests for comment Friday, so we don't officially know why. The person close to Lightfoot says the reason they've been given is they found a mistake on his application from more than two years ago. They believe the district is looking for an excuse to let him go.

Friday night, students and families will wear "#SAVELIGHTFOOT" shirts supporting him at the football game. They hope the district hears them loud and clear.

Lightfoot met with district administration today, but as he left the building, he told us he wasn't able to comment. "My son thinks the world of him, as do most high school students," Powell said.

Friday night, students and families will wear "#SAVELIGHTFOOT" shirts supporting him at the football game. They hope the district hears them loud and clear.

A young girl in the care of a babysitter and a pregnant woman were among the people airlifted to safety in Krum on Sunday, after they were stranded in their homes by torrential downpours that gave way to flash floods.

"It was scary. It really is, to know you've got to be airlifted because there's no other way to get to you, it's scary." said Danette Blanchard, who was babysitting when flood waters from North Hickory Creek rushed into the home.

Denton County Emergency Services Chief Jody Gonzalez said Sunday that multiple rescues had been performed from flooded streets and homes in the small town located about 50 miles northwest of Dallas.

Chopper 5 witnessed the Texas National Guard perform five rescues from one home, including a woman holding a 5-month-old girl.

"To be harnessed and spinning in the air, it's a nightmare," said Blanchard, who was babysitting Melissa Cronce's daughter.

Cronce was also trapped, unable to get to her baby, watching the rescue unfold.

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"I was really scared and then trying to come down here to get her, all the roads being blocked off," said Cronce. "I was scared, but I knew she was going to be OK."

Blanchard said last time the creek rose she and her family were able to get out by boat, but not this time.

14:30

Texas Guard Rescues Family in Krum

Chopper 5 watched as a family and a baby were rescued from a flooded home in Krum in Denton County.

Blanchard's pregnant granddaughter was also rescued. Blanchard's mother suffered some minor injuries as she was being lifted through the trees.

Along Duck Creek in Sanger, two men were stranded on the top of a maroon pickup with water rushing around them. Rescuers first tried to make a ground rescue but moved in quickly with a helicopter to pluck them to safety.

Members of the five-man crew responsible for the two rescues said Monday they don't want to be known as heroes.

"I think that word gets used a little too often. We are just doing a job," said rescue swimmer Wayne Twiner, of Texas Task Force 1. "I am just very thankful we were able to get all those victims to safety."

As Twiner was lowered down into the water to rescue the two stuck on top of the truck, he slammed right into a fence.

"It was an 'oh heck' moment for sure," said Twiner.

But he kept going.

"It happened so quick. All I remember is coming up and the fence being there and I worked my way over. Then I got on the truck. I was more worried about those two guys on the truck," said Twiner.

Texas Army National Guard Lt. Col Troy Meuth was the pilot. He explained he was concentrating on keeping the aircraft steady and did not see the people in back. It was not until later he found out they had rescued a family.

"My wife said, 'You know you weren't here with me on Mother's Day, but you saved some moms and a grandmother, and you rock,' so that was very special," said Meuth.

National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Staley said there were numerous road closures in North Texas after storms dumped six to seven inches of rain on some places over the last four days.

Chopper 5 showed showed some vehicles nearly submerged.

Your Storm Photos - May 10, 2015

A storm survey team with the National Weather Service confirms Thursday two weak tornadoes touched down in Krum and Saginaw Wednesday.

The survey team said the tornado in Krum was an EF-0 with a maximum wind speed of 75 mph while the Saginaw twister, also an EF-0, had winds up to 80 mph.

Most of the damage in Krum, the NWS said, was restricted to trees.

In Saginaw, the NWS said the tornado initially formed near the Villages of Eagle Mountain neighborhood where it pulled bricks from the facade of one home. The tornado tracked east from there between Bailey Boswell Road and WJ Boaz Road, where mostly tree damage was found. The tornado moved over to North Saginaw Boulevard where several business signs were damaged and power poles were built. It continued to move east before dissipating.

Earlier in the morning, NWS survey teams confirmed a brief EF-1 tornado touched down in North Fort Worth, where severe winds caused roof damage in the Heritage Trace area. The National Weather Service said the tornado left a path of damage reaching about a half mile with maximum winds of about 90 mph.

The tornadoes were part of a larger outbreak of twisters that swept through parts of northern and eastern Texas Wednesday, leaving scattered reports of damage but only one minor injury.

The National Weather Service said in a statement that strong low-level instability allowed some of the thunderstorms to become severe and that it has received numerous reports of wind damage, hail and a few tornadoes.

The weather service said crews would continue surveying areas of damage on Thursday before providing official confirmation on tornadoes and wind speeds.

Twisters were reported near Rockwall, Greenville and Canton between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Dozens of funnel clouds that didn't reach the ground were also sighted, with many people sharing their storm pictures to NBC 5 through iSee@nbcdfw.com.

On the northern shore of Cedar Creek Reservoir, about 50 miles southwest of Dallas, a reported tornado caused significant damage in a lakeside subdivision. Steve Howie, emergency management coordinator for Kaufman County, said one person suffered minor injuries in the Cedar Creek Country Club subdivision. He also said many downed trees are making roads impassable in the area.

In Canton, about 55 miles east of Dallas, a tornado caused major damage to the exterior of a gas station and convenience store. The Texas Thunder Truck intercepted the twister as it crossed Texas Highway 19, just moments after it swept through the central core of the town.

Pictures of Funnel Clouds on May 29, 2019

Storm Damage Photos - May 29, 2019

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