Educators are vital pillars of our community, yet their contributions are often underestimated. It takes a special person to dedicate themselves to teaching, mentoring and motivating young minds.
Jonathan Oliver, a physical education teacher at WG Nunn Elementary in Valdosta, Georgia, is one example of this commitment. He recently earned recognition for a touching moment of kindness during a children’s basketball game.
When kindergarten teacher Kristen Paulk asked for help with her ponytail, Oliver didn’t hesitate. He knelt on a basketball to be at eye level with her and carefully tied her pigtails to make sure her hair didn’t fall into her face. This tender gesture, captured on video, was shared on YouTube by Kandice Anderson, a fellow teacher
The video, aptly titled “When Your Job Goes Beyond Teaching!” quickly went viral and captured the hearts of many. It eventually caught the attention of Good Morning America, which interviewed the 34-year-old father of three.
“I was surprised by the attention because that’s exactly what we do,” Oliver told Good Morning America, unaware of the recording. “We want students to feel at home and loved. For me, wearing a ponytail just helped.”
Oliver mentioned that while Kristen’s request was for a ponytail, his hairstyling expertise was otherwise quite limited. “If she had asked for something else, I would have said, ‘You better ask your mom,’” he joked.
Kristen’s mother, Miyah Cleckley, expressed her appreciation for Oliver’s gesture. “I always know that Kristen is in excellent hands with him. It was especially touching because my husband helps us a lot with our daughters’ hair, as we have five girls and a son.”
There are many stories of teachers going the extra mile, and Jonathan Oliver’s story is a beautiful example of everyday heroes in education.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this touching story, share them in the comments!
Co-host of ‘The View’ triggers Matthew McConaughey, his reply is very unexpected
A vocal supporter of “responsible gun ownership,” Matthew McConaughey got into a heated argument with Joy Behar of The View when she questioned the actor’s anti-gun views.
During his appearance on the show, McConaughey talked about the value of his career as a father of three and promoted his children’s book Just Because. The actor was praised by co-host Sunny Hostin for being “so outspoken against violence, and gun violence in particular” after she veered off course.
You thought about running for Texas governor in 2021, but ultimately decided to put your family first. Do you believe holding public office will be in your future? Hostin enquired.
“Yes, if that’s where I think I can be most useful,” the Interstellar actor answered. “At this time, I want to be the most helpful father I can be.”
“Do you think you could get elected in Texas being anti-gun?” Behan asked again.
“One thing about me and politics, to give you a direct statement right there, is me playing a game I’m not interested in playing,” McConaughey said, pointing a finger at Behar.
“Okay, don’t do it,” Behar said, attempting to diffuse the situation by stating, “I did want to say that I’ve done a lot of research in terms of your advocacy, and I don’t think you’re pro-gun responsibility and legislation.”
At a White House meeting after the 2022 Robb Elementary School tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, where an 18-year-old former student killed 19 pupils and two teachers, McConaughey urged people to “renegotiate our wants from our needs.”
Background checks and responsible ownership are essential. The age requirement to purchase an AR-15 rifle needs to be raised to 21. A waiting time is required for such firearms. Red flag rules are necessary, and those who violate them should face repercussions; these are tactical, sensible, and realistic regulations, the speaker stated.
“Responsible gun owners are fed up with the Second Amendment being abused and hijacked by some deranged individuals,” the Oscar-winning actor continued.
The actor and his spouse, Camila Alves, started the Greenlights Grant Initiative in the wake of the horrific event with the intention of “ensuring the well-being of our children and creating safer school environments.”
Along with McConaughey, Alves is the parent of three children: Levi, 15, Vida, 13, and Livingston, 10.
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