GULF SHORES — When Ron West looks into the eyes of students in the halls and classrooms of Gulf Shores High School, he’s searching for a way to make a difference, to inspire, to teach.

“After last year we had students come to us and say ‘due to your class, now I know what I’m going to do with my career,’” West said. “It really changed a lot of lives in a lot of students and that’s what we’re here for.”

And change is something West knows a little something about.

A tree cutting accident on May 9 — just two weeks before the close of his first year establishing and leading the school’s Fire Science Academy — changed his life. After surgeries, rehabilitation and therapy, West is now tooling around the school in a wheelchair. The injury took away the use of his legs.

One thing, colleagues say, didn’t change. West’s attitude.

“He never complains. Ever,” fellow teacher Dale Jernigan said.

While always passionate about his role in starting and leading the fire academy, Jernigan, who runs the Health Science Academy across the hall from West’s classroom, says he’s even more determined to make a difference.

And he can be a shining example of teaching students not only firefighting and emergency medical skills, but also how to deal with adversity.

“He’s hoping he can use his story to show kids they can overcome anything that comes their way,” Jernigan said. “And that’s what he’s doing. He is a role model for these students and these teachers.”

Principal Ernie Rosado likes what he sees when West roams his hallways or interacts with students in his classroom.

“He talks to the students,” Rosado said. “’How you doing in math, how you doing in biology? You doing OK, you need some help?’ He’s like checking on other things, not just fire science.

“It’s good for him to come back. There’s a lot to do here.”

Jernigan sees some of the same qualities in West’s teaching style.

“He sees the whole person,” she said. “He wants to develop and guide them. I am so inspired.”

It’s not like they could have kept him from returning. Just one week out of the hospital, he was back at the school preparing for the second year of the fledgling academy.

“It’s my passion right now,” West said. “It’s kind of my driving force after my injury to strive to get back here and get back in shape so I could get back in the high school. It gave me something to really strive for and push for.”

While it may have been a slow start — West said he could only work three or four hours to start with — he’s getting stronger every day. Now, he says, he can go six to eight hours before returning home exhausted.

Gulf Shores Fire Chief Hartly Brokenshaw says West, a lieutenant in his department, is in the same role and job he had before the accident.

“What he was doing over there and what happened to him, it doesn’t affect it at all,” Brokenshaw said. “He can just step right back in. He can do all of the same stuff.”

The chief is also one of West’s biggest fans.

“If you didn’t see him in the wheelchair you wouldn’t know the difference,” Brokenshaw said. “He’s still Ron with that great attitude. He’s doing great.”

Back at the school, West gave praise right back to the city. The department, with the blessing of city leaders, supplies West as instructor, any other fire personnel he needs for classes and access to training equipment and trucks.

Many days, like a recent Thursday, the crew on duty at Station No. 1 was at the school in the truck to lead a demonstration for the classes.

“We have such a huge resource with the city and the fire department,” West said. “It’s almost an unlimited resource with them.”