Student a hero in two cities

reedhero062: Jeffrey Reed
Sillect Community School student Jeffrey Reed is a hero in two cities, after saving a Shell Beach couple from a burning house.
Sillect Community School student Jeffrey Reed admits he made a mistake a year ago for which he was expelled from Liberty High School in Bakersfield. A year later, besides turning his scholastic life around, Reed is being hailed as a hero in two cities for an act of selfless courage. The weekend before school started in Kern County, Reed and friend Bryce Mosley rescued an elderly couple from a burning house, while vacationing with a relative in Shell Beach.

Mosley's grandmother saw smoke pouring out of Norma and Alfred Mannon's home and yelled out. The boys ran outside, saw what was happening and acted. Processing and reacting to several critical events happening all at once, Reed had to make many split second decisions.

"We didn't have to think about it," Reed said. "We knew someone was in danger and that we had to help. I think that instinct came from what my parents taught me about helping people. We rushed in. My only thought was I need to get these people and myself out safely."

Reed said he found a confused Mrs. Mannon in the kitchen smoke. Despite several constant pleas from Reed, she refused to leave. Finally, he took his shirt off, told Mannon to put it over her head and breathe through it, while she was led out by Mosley. Then, Reed said he discovered what was keeping Mrs. Mannon inside. Alfred Mannon, who is wheelchair-bound with Parkinson's Disease, was crying out for help in an upstairs bedroom. Reed turned his attention to Mr. Mannon, getting him into a wheelchair. Then, with help from Mosley, who had come back inside, hand carried him down two flights of stairs to safety.

Sept. 5 Reed and Mosley were back in San Luis Obispo County once again, where they were honored with awards from the city council and city firemen. Yes, life has turned around for Reed.

This is his second semester at Sillect, a community school operated by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools that helps give students a second chance, by allowing them to continue their education in a setting that offers options to traditional classroom curriculum while teaching to California standards.

"Sillect has taught me a lot of respect," Reed said. "I was tired of getting in trouble and when I got expelled, I decided it was time to pull myself out of the rut I was in. Sillect is different from other high schools where there always seems to be a lot of drama. Here you concentrate on doing what you have to do to make sure you graduate on time. All the staff is here to help you pull yourself together. I found in a traditional high school there were too many kids in the classes. Here, there is a lot of one-on-one time with teachers, and they help give the instruction you need."

Reed admits to being shy by nature and credits campus security guard Kyle Barton for befriending him his first few days at Sillect. Reed said because of his helpful nature he knew immediately Barton was someone with whom he could confide. And, when word of Reed's heroism hit the local newspaper, a smiling Barton was the first one to show him the story when he arrived for school. Reed said, "Everyone thought it was pretty cool."

Principal Trucker Clark was not surprised by Reed's heroism. "Sillect is a new school, and Jeff was the first out of five students to arrive on that first day of class. You could tell by his demeanor and posture, even back then, that he was going to be a neat student, and he has been all that."

As for the future, Reed is considering a career in fire safety. But, there is a more pressing goal right now -- one that he is very anxious to achieve.

"In January, if everything goes well, I will be able to transfer back to Liberty," Reed said. "I want to experience what seniors look forward to, the senior prom and graduating with my class."


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