Moultire, GA, March 13, 2008:  Mrs. Barbara Tucker was honored as the EMS Instructor of the Year by the Southwest Georgia EMS Council at the Department of Human Resources Office of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Region eight EMS Awards Banquet.  Mrs. Tucker has taught the Paramedic Program at Valdosta Technical College since 1986.  During that tenure she has received the Valdosta Technical College Instructor of the Year Award (1993), and was named the Mike Miller Memorial EMS Educator of the year for the state of Georgia for 2003.  Tucker summed up her thoughts stating; “My passion is teaching emergency medical providers and instilling a strong sense of professional values, compassion, and ethics, combined with excellence in medical knowledge and skills for emergent, accurate responses to our citizens in need of such expertise. Their life-saving role in our communities cannot be underestimated, and their dedication to the often difficult job is an inspiration to me every day that I work with them.  They are truly my heroes, and I count it a privilege to be involved in their education.”

Mrs. Tucker holds bachelors and masters degrees in nursing from Valdosta State University and an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Georgia.  Mrs. Tucker is currently the Program Coordinator for the EMS/Paramedic program in addition to her teaching responsibilities.