News We Love: Ohio high school football players, teachers go viral for heartwarming jersey video
A football team's Tiktok is making an impact
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Updated: 4:15 AM PDT Oct 26, 2024
TONIGHT, A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING VIRAL THIS WEEK FOR A GREAT REASON. AND AS WLWT NEWS FIVE’S MEGAN MITCHELL SHOWS US STUDENTS AT TAFT HIGH SCHOOL KNOW A GOOD TEACHER CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF A CHILD’S LIFE. YES, ALL ROBERT KELLY NEEDED WAS A MENTOR. EVERYBODY ELSE CAME TO ME LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS THE NEW STUDENT. SHE CAME TO ME LIKE SHE ALREADY KNEW ME. AND I’M LIKE, OKAY, I AIN’T FELT THIS WAY YET. THE FOOTBALL PLAYER FIRST ARRIVED AT TAFT AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNIOR YEAR WITH ENORMOUS SKILLS ON THE FIELD AND A CURIOSITY IN MEDIA STUDIES. ALL THE KIDS WEAR THESE BEATS LIKE THEY’RE STUCK TO THEIR HAND, WHICH IS HOW HE MET MRS. LEGREE. SHE WAS LIKE, HEY, I’M MR. GREE. I’M LIKE, HEY, I’M ROBERT KELLY. AFTER THAT, IT WAS JUST LIKE THIS IS MY DOG. IN A YEAR’S TIME, THIS SENIOR HAS TAKEN THE REINS OF MRS. LEGREE’S MEDIA DEPARTMENT. I NEED HIM IN MY LIFE. LIKE EVERY TEACHER NEEDS A ROBERT KELLY IN THEIR CLASS. LITERALLY. SO HE’S AMAZING. AND I’M HONORED TO GET HIS JERSEY, BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE PICKED ANYBODY, AND HE PICKED LITTLE OLD ME. ROBERT. AND SENIORS FROM THE TAFT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM. I WAS REALLY HOPING YOU WOULD GIVE ME GAVE THEIR JERSEYS TO TEACHERS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THEIR LIFE BEFORE THE SENIOR NIGHT GAME. I WAS REALLY HOPING I WOULD GET ONE. LOVE IT. SO MUCH. THAT VIDEO I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE REACTION. GARNERING MORE THAN 10 MILLION VIEWS IN JUST FOUR DAYS. I TAKE IT TO OUR FOOTBALL GROUP CHAT LIKE THE NFL JUST COMMENTED ON THE POST. LIKE THAT WAS CRAZY. 30 YEAR ART TEACHER SUSAN COAKLEY SAYS THE STAFF TAKES ON MANY ROLES IN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE’S LIVES. WHEN THOSE GUYS CAME AROUND AND HANDED US THOSE JERSEYS THAT MEANT THE WORLD TO US. LIKE THE WORLD TO ME, SO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF OUR MAGIC MAKERS HERE AT TAFT, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THEY DID THAT DAY. AND NOW THE STUDENTS SHOWING UP FOR THEM. THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, AUSTIN GULLETT, WAS THE ONE WHO POSTED THAT VIDEO. TOTALLY SHOCKED BY THE NUMBERS AS THEY KEPT ROLLING IN. HE HOPES THAT THE REACTION EMPOWERS STUDENTS AND SHOWCASES TO THE COMMUNITY THE GOOD THAT GOES O
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News We Love: Ohio high school football players, teachers go viral for heartwarming jersey video
A local high school is making waves online for all the right reasons. Taft High School is going viral, showcasing the power of a great teacher.See the story in the video above "Everybody else came to me like, 'OK, this is the new student,'" Robert Kelly said. "She came to me like she already knew me. I hadn't felt that way yet."Kelly joined Taft at the start of his junior year. Kelly made an impression on the football field, but was curious about media studies. Kelly found a mentor in his media studies teacher, Shanah LeGre.Over the past year, Kelly has taken charge of LeGre's media department."I need him in my life," LeGre said. "Every teacher needs a Robert Kelly. He's amazing, and I'm honored to get his jersey."Kelly and his fellow football seniors made headlines by giving their jerseys to teachers who made an impact on their lives ahead of the school's senior night game. The video of the event, shared by athletic director Austin Gullett, has gone viral, racking up more than 10 million views in just four days."I texted our football group chat," Kelly said. "Like, 'The NFL just commented on our post.' It was crazy."Gullett was just as shocked by the response to the video. He hopes the outpouring of support will inspire students and showcase the good that happens within schools every day.Longtime art teacher Susan Coakley was one of the staff members honored by the players. She said this recognition meant everything."When those guys came around and handed us their jerseys, it meant the world to us," Coakley said. "Very appreciative of our magic makers here at Taft because that's what they did that day."
A local high school is making waves online for all the right reasons. Taft High School is going viral, showcasing the power of a great teacher.
See the story in the video above
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"Everybody else came to me like, 'OK, this is the new student,'" Robert Kelly said. "She came to me like she already knew me. I hadn't felt that way yet."
Kelly joined Taft at the start of his junior year. Kelly made an impression on the football field, but was curious about media studies. Kelly found a mentor in his media studies teacher, Shanah LeGre.
Over the past year, Kelly has taken charge of LeGre's media department.
"I need him in my life," LeGre said. "Every teacher needs a Robert Kelly. He's amazing, and I'm honored to get his jersey."
Kelly and his fellow football seniors made headlines by giving their jerseys to teachers who made an impact on their lives ahead of the school's senior night game.
The video of the event, shared by athletic director Austin Gullett, has gone viral, racking up more than 10 million views in just four days.
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In honor of Senior Day tomorrow, our senior football players chose one staff member who has had a positive impact on their life to wear their jersey to the game tomorrow afternoon. From security to teacher to administrators, no matter the title you hold, you never know who you can make an impact on. Every day we come to work is an opportunity to make an impact & these staff members have changed these young men’s lives for the better! WE ARE TAFT!!! 💚💛 #SeniorNight#Jersey#teacherappreciation#wholesome
"I texted our football group chat," Kelly said. "Like, 'The NFL just commented on our post.' It was crazy."
Gullett was just as shocked by the response to the video. He hopes the outpouring of support will inspire students and showcase the good that happens within schools every day.
Longtime art teacher Susan Coakley was one of the staff members honored by the players. She said this recognition meant everything.
"When those guys came around and handed us their jerseys, it meant the world to us," Coakley said. "Very appreciative of our magic makers here at Taft because that's what they did that day."
