Telecommunicators in Iredell County shared their experiences and responsibilities in a statement released on Apr. 13, highlighting the vital role they play as the “first” first responders during emergencies.
Their work is important because they are often the first point of contact for people in crisis, coordinating emergency responses and ensuring help arrives quickly. The story features Brandon Boyd, who joined Iredell County in March 2025 after military service, and Tracey Fenton, who started her career there in late 2023 after moving from Pennsylvania.
Boyd said telecommunicators handle many tasks at once: “We’re doing about ten things at once. We’re coordinating with responders while staying on the line with the caller, handling heavy radio traffic, and problem-solving in real-time.” Fenton described their investigative work: “If you’re out in the middle of nowhere and have no clue where you are, we’ve got to find you, the best access point, and exactly what resources you need. We don’t just answer; we get everyone there.”
Both Boyd and Fenton shared stories that illustrate how telecommunicators can make a difference during crises. Boyd recalled staying on the phone with a mother during a domestic call until deputies arrived: “It’s about being that person who helps them when they don’t know what to do.” Fenton remembered helping save a caller having a heart attack by keeping him talking until help arrived: “He ended up being life-flighted and survived after coding three times,” she said. “That reminds me why this job matters. Without us, people like that wouldn’t make it.”
Inside the dispatch center, camaraderie is strong among team members who spend long shifts together—sometimes more hours than with their own families. As Fenton put it: this is not just a job but a career.
In addition to emergency response efforts by county staff such as telecommunicators, recent educational data shows challenges facing local students preparing for college entrance exams. Of 1,980 senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in Iredell County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, only 27% were considered ready for college according to state education data. Among juniors taking science ACTs that year (2,140 students), readiness was slightly higher at nearly 29% according to state education data.
Reading scores were somewhat better; nearly 37% of seniors (729 out of 1,980) met college readiness benchmarks on reading ACTs according to state education data, while almost 38% of juniors (795 out of 2,140) achieved similar results according to state education data. Math performance lagged behind other subjects—just over one-quarter of both seniors (26%) and juniors (25%) were considered ready for college-level math based on ACT scores according to state education data.
The combination of dedicated public safety professionals like Boyd and Fenton alongside ongoing educational challenges underscores both strengths within Iredell County’s workforce as well as areas needing continued attention.