Teachers play a huge role in shaping our future, yet they don’t always get the credit they deserve.
They do more than just teach. They guide, support, and inspire young minds every single day. Many teachers go the extra mile to help their students, showing kindness in ways big and small.
One such teacher is Jonathan Oliver, a phys-ed coach at WG Nunn Elementary in Valdosta, Georgia. He was recently praised for a simple yet thoughtful act during a basketball game.
While coaching, he was approached by a young student, Kristen Paulk, who needed help. Without hesitation, he stepped in.
Kristen, a kindergartener on Oliver’s basketball team, needed her hair tied back in a ponytail. Without missing a beat, the coach knelt down, balancing on a basketball, and carefully secured her braids away from her face.
What he didn’t know was that someone was recording the moment.
Another teacher at the school, Kandice Anderson, filmed the sweet gesture and later shared it online. The video quickly gained attention and touched the hearts of many.
Titled “When your job goes beyond teaching,” the video showed Oliver’s simple act of kindness in action.
It wasn’t long before Good Morning America picked up the story. They reached out to Oliver, who was surprised by the attention.
“I didn’t even realize I was being filmed,” Oliver said in an interview. “It’s just something we do as teachers.”
He explained that teachers try to make students feel comfortable, almost like they’re at home. “To me, it was just a ponytail,” he added.
Oliver, a father of three, admitted that hair styling is not his strong suit—though he does help with his own daughter’s hair at home.
“It was lucky she asked for a ponytail. If it was anything else, I’d have told her to ask her mom,” he joked.
Kristen’s mother, Miyah Cleckley, was touched by the video. “It was sweet to see. I know my daughter is in good hands,” she said.
This is just one of many examples of how teachers go beyond the classroom to care for their students. They truly make a difference every day.