Teacher gives shoes off his own feet to student so he can walk across stage at graduation
A substitute teacher came to the rescue of a Virginia fifth grader who broke his shoe right before he was set to walk across the stage at graduation.
George Mason Elementary, located in Richmond, Va., held a graduation ceremony for its students on Wednesday. But one student’s broken shoe might have kept him from walking if it weren’t for Vohn Lewis’s quick thinking, giving the student the shoes off his own feet ahead of the big moment.
The boy’s parent and a school guidance counselor tried to search for supplies to fix the shoe, but Lewis intervened and told them it wasn’t necessary because he wore the same size shoes as the student, whose identity has not been made public.
“You don’t have to do all that,” Lewis told the adults, according to NBC Washington.“I wear a size 10 and he can wear my shoes.” He added, “I wasn’t thinking. I just moved with my heart.”
Bradley Cook Kopelove, who also teaches at the elementary school, posted about the kind gesture on Facebook.
Kopelove wasn’t the only one impressed by the teacher’s kindness. School administrators also shared how fantastic it was that Lewis cares so much about his students.
"It's moments like these — the little things that you do when no one is watching, that truly defines the character of a person,” Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “We're lucky to have individuals at Richmond Public Schools, like Mr. Lewis, who continue to go above and beyond for our students every day."
George Mason Elementary Principal Rose Ferguson said that it isn’t unusual for teachers at George Mason to go above and beyond for their students.
“We are identified as a ‘trauma-informed school’; therefore, we have teachers that work in the trenches daily to make a positive impact on students. It is not unusual for staff to purchase clothes, a belt or shoes for students,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle.
She added that Lewis definitely didn’t help out for attention.
“Mr. Lewis' actions were not for recognition! In fact, he had no idea that our teacher or counselor was giving him a ‘Shout Out!’ I'm certainly proud to have had the opportunity to work with the staff at Mason! They are a true asset to children and their families!” she said.
Lewis told Yahoo Lifestyle that he did not expect his act of kindness to garner so much attention.
“It's truly something I do on a daily basis for any child from any walk of life,” he said. “What I did was me acting totally from the heart and if I had the opportunity to do it again I definitely would.”
Lewis added that he wants his students to know that there are people who genuinely care about them in the school system.
“There are some people who genuinely want them to succeed in life and to get the best from their scholastic experience,” said Lewis. “My advice to all students is to always try to be a blessing to someone who really needs you.”
Bradley Cook Kopelove did not immediately responded to Yahoo Lifestyle’s requests for comment.
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