We often hear that teachers do their best to help others, especially the children in their care.
One such hero is Jonathan Oliver, a physical education teacher at WG Nunn Elementary School in Valdosta, Georgia, who was recognized for his kind act towards a kindergartener while coaching a basketball game.
After one of his students asked him for help, he was only more than happy to help her.
When one of the kindergarteners on Oliver’s basketball team, Kristen Paulk, asked him to help tie her hair back in a ponytail, the coach sprang into action.
Taking a knee on a basketball to get down to little Kristen’s level, Oliver appeared concentrated as he worked on tying her braids back away from her face. Though, unbeknownst to him, he was being recorded.
Kandice Anderson, another teacher at the elementary school, filmed the coach’s sweet gesture — eventually posting it on YouTube, where he received heartfelt support from the public.
The caption of the viral video read: “When your job goes beyond teaching!”
The footage eventually made its way to Good Morning America, who contacted the 34-year-old dad-of-three for an interview.
“It was shocking to me that it got that much attention because we all do it,” Oliver Good Morning America, adding that he didn’t realize he was being filmed.
“We [teachers] want to make them feel like they’re at home and that they enjoy being here,” he added. “We try to love on them as much as possible. To me, it was just a ponytail.”
The caring coach told the outlet that Kristen asked him to help her put a ponytail in her hair during a basketball game, but unfortunately, his expertise doesn’t extend beyond that – although he often helps style his daughter’s hair.
“It was a good thing she asked for a ponytail. Anything else, I’d say, ‘You better ask your mom,’” he joked.
Kristen’s mother, Miyah Cleckley, told the outlet that the video touched her, saying, “I always know that Kristen is in very good hands with him. I thought it was really cute because her father does their hair a lot. We have five girls and one son so when I’m working he has to pick up the weight of doing their hair.”
This story is just one of many stories of teachers doing the best they can for their students. They are truly heroes!
