California teacher turns TikTok sensation with his dance moves in viral video
A Culture Director and teacher has turned into a TikTok sensation, thanks to his considerate moves of making school "look fun" and "feel safe".
Meet Austin LeMay, the cool Culture Director of Tenaya Middle School, California, who occasionally shares school updates on his Instagram page and addresses his students as "Braves" (well, after surviving nearly two years of school-on-Zoom, what else do you call your students?).
A VIRAL TIKTOK VIDEO
The pandemic was tough on everyone; especially schoolgoing kids.
Given their age, they should have been spending time in class with friends, enjoying the classroom learning process, and getting their sports and games. But instead, they had to sit at home, study from home, and well, it was a long time to be sitting at home. But LeMay was certain, their legacy would not be average. Ever.
Once schools opened up, the fear and anxiety of the pandemic in schools was obvious but the teachers knew that the kids wouldn't be able to learn well if they were constantly worried and afraid to interact with others. Maybe the kids had just gotten used to quietly sitting behind a screen.
As the student-staff connection was a high priority for the school, their focus was to create an atmosphere where the kids felt safe, welcome, and wanted to spend time in school. So, the teachers had to do something to make the kids feel safe, excited and included. They had to basically teach the kids "how to relax", so that they could come in with ease and connect with other people. Also, it would make teaching them way easy.
So, who bettter than the Culture Director to take the initiative?
So, the school started a weekly rally every Friday after class, where children would come out and gather around, show off their dance moves, and bond with one another with their love and passion for dancing.
THE EFFECT
The directors' moves (both creative and strategic) started having the intended effect on students. Now every Friday after class, children gather up to show off their dance moves and praise those of LeMay. The video was posted by his colleague Jenny Mccauley, a Resource Counsellor in Tenaya Middle School in California, to showcase the good things that happen around in college. Austin was probably teaching in his class, but when the song came up, his Principal signalled at him to come and show off his moves. He had to show his students how the dance was done.
Austin was recorded showing his moves on the 2009 song You Are A Jerk as the kids, colleagues and the principal watched him out-Jerk-ing everyone.
A VOTE OF THANKS
LeMay has been dancing and singing in the shower for quite a while, and was happy to have received this recognition.
LeMay, who has grown up watching MTV, credits his parents for his awesome 2000s hip hop moves and willingness to get up and dance. He wants to continue shedding positive light for his "Braves'' and his school. He said that had been waiting 30 years for this thing to happen!
Watch the entire video here: