NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — A+ Teacher Kelley Markland is giving back to the community by teaching in a way to really pay it forward. She is not only helping students learn, but she is introducing them to all kinds of career opportunities in the medical field.

Markland was born and raised in Port Orange.

“My sister was a nurse. My brother was a police officer here in town, and I was a paramedic. So we all kind of gave back to the community that we have grown up in and that we love,” she said.

Everywhere you look in Markland’s class, students are getting hands on experience in health care. She says going into the medical field for her was an easy choice.

“I’ve always loved teaching, but in my family, we were all in that first responder medical field. My mom was a nurse who gave everything and had the biggest heart,” she said.

In her classroom, students are not only learning important skills, but they are learning how to dress for the job too.

Markland said, “This is real life stuff that they have to learn, so the scrubs, I think, helps them be a little bit more of the professional mindset. We get to look the part and act the part and it creates a good sense of comradery between all of us.”

But it is not just about wearing scrubs once a week, either.

“My seniors actually do senior internships and job shadowing at the end of the school year,” Markland said.

She said she wants to help the next generation not only learn the skills but land a job that will turn into a career.

“This has been one of the best experiences in the past three years. Being here with these students has been absolutely heartwarming,” she expressed.