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!
In 1983, a 16-pound baby caught everyone’s attention: You won’t believe what he looks like now!
In 1983, Patricia Clarke, then 24, had a strong feeling that her baby was about to get bigger. There were many big babies in her family, but the size of her newborn still surprised her.
Patricia gave birth to Kevin Robert Clark, who weighed an astonishing 16 pounds, making him possibly the largest baby born at Community Memorial Hospital and possibly in New Jersey at the time. Despite his size, Kevin was perfectly healthy, although he did not fit into a standard crib and his baby clothes were too small.
Kevin’s extraordinary height quickly made him famous, with appearances on popular shows such as Saturday Night Live and Good Morning America. As he grew up, his height continued to make headlines. By age 12, he was already 5’7″ and continued to grow. By the time he reached middle school, he was 6’5″ and he didn’t stop there.
Kevin humorously tells the New York Post: “Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me how tall I am. I like to joke that I’m 5’9″. When people ask if I play basketball, I ask them if they play mini golf.”
Now 40, Kevin is a former soldier who lives with his 6’1″ wife and their Great Dane. He has grown to an impressive height of 6’9″, which he easily manages.
Check out the video below to learn more about Kevin’s incredible journey. Despite the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, it seems that Kevin has adapted well. We wish him all the best as he continues his journey! Please SHARE this amazing story with your family and friends!
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