Glendale Elementary School District spokesman Jim Cummings said a third-grader at Horizon Elementary School was choking on his hamburger lunch last Wednesday when Susie Morales noticed he needed help.

Cummings said Morales performed the Heimlich maneuver on the student and dislodged the blockage.

Morales's quick action cleared the child's breathing passage, and he was able to return to class, Cummings said.

Morales, who has been a Glendale Elementary School District employee for 21 years, was on lunch duty at the time, said Cummings.

"Susie didn't want to be called a hero," said Horizon Principal Diane Garner. "She just said 'I only did what I knew had to be done.'"