Teacher Discovers Shocking Cause Of Student's Concerning Behavior
Kindergarten teacher Nancy Bleuer practically spent more time huddled over children's books or cleaning up craft stains than she did resting at home. She knew she was put on Earth to be of service to others, and that’s part of why she became a kindergarten teacher. Guiding kids through their formidable years was 60 hours per week well spent. Still, she never expected her job would thrust her into the middle of a life-of-death situation.
Camden’s Secret
One of Miss Nancy's pupils was a 4-year-old named Camden Peterson. A bright, energetic, and social kid, he carried a secret with him that not even the intuitive Miss Nancy could figure out. The secret bothered him. It scared him. And whether or not he knew it, he always wore it on his sleeve. He never spoke about his situation, however. At least, not directly.
Someone Noticed
One day at school, Nancy Bleuer noticed something was wrong with her student. Camden was acting strange, silent, and reclusive. Was he sick? Was something wrong at home? Was he feeling out of place? She was intent on getting to the bottom of it, so she monitored him carefully.
Pulling Him Aside
After days turned into weeks with no improvement on Camden’s part, Nancy asked if they could talk in private. She didn't want to single him out in front of the other kids, and she was relieved when he said yes. They went to an empty corner of the room, and the truth poured out.
Not Him
Nancy was worried. Camden was demonstrating telltale signs of a kid with a rotten home life. Her dedication to her students didn't stop in the classroom, so she carefully coaxed the truth out of her pupil. He was hesitant to speak at first, but after some careful guidance and effort, he confessed.
Darreld's Dilemma
The source of his heartache was his father. See, while 34-year-old Darreld Peterson of Mason City, Iowa, kept the finer details of his life out of the public spotlight, one thing was perfectly clear to all who knew and met him: he loved his son. But Darreld wasn't doing well.
Like Father...
Pictures of the father and his 4-year-old son decorated his social media profiles. In each one, the duo wore huge smiles across their faces, whether they were at a school event with inflatable slides or just in the car. During their escapades, Camden didn't know his father was dying.
Antibodies!
In 2010, just a few years before Camden was born, doctors diagnosed Darreld with Berger's disease. Antibodies called IgA, the experts said, were building up in his kidneys and slowly destroying the organs.
Future Free
In other words, Darreld was on the fast track to renal kidney failure, a condition in which his deteriorated kidneys would no longer filter all the toxins out of his bloodstream. When that set in, he would die — leaving Camden behind.
Kidney Failure
So after Camden was born in 2012, Darreld raised him knowing a fatal diagnosis was just one doctor's visit away. And in January 2016, the Sword of Damocles finally fell: his kidneys failed. He needed a transplant ASAP.
Donors
While doctors placed him on a kidney donor list, he also sought out donors himself. "I had friends and family come forward who wanted to donate," he said, "but these didn't work out, for medical reasons or other reasons." In the meantime, he started up dialysis.
Dialysis
The 34-year-old spent 4 hours three days per week hooked up to a machine that filtered his blood, during which he no doubt thought of little else but Camden. And for the four-year-old, even with his dad on dialysis, life continued.
Devastated
As Camden told his story, Nancy's jaw fell to the floor. The story he told was devastating. His father was seriously ill, and without proper treatment, he was likely going to die. The truth was an unbearable weight for a kindergartener, yet Nancy was determined to set everything right.
Trouble At Home
So Nancy went to her files and pulled up the phone number for Camden's dad, Darreld. He, of course, had no idea that he was about to receive this call. When he first realized it was Camden’s teacher, he worried that his son had gotten in trouble!
Kidney Failure
The teacher told the father that Camden had spilled the beans, and Darreld was embarrassed beyond belief. Nevertheless, he filled her in on all the details 4-year-old Camden wasn't privy to. His kidneys were functioning at below 20% capacity, and he didn't have a ton of time left.
Selfless
Many would argue that teaching is tireless and underpaid. It takes a giving person to be one, and that described 54-year-old Nancy to a tee. She wasn't getting any younger, and her kidneys were working fine. Maybe, she suggested, Darreld could use one of her kidneys! Immediately, Darreld declined. They'd have to think of another way.
Promised To Help
But no matter what, Nancy was committed to helping. She pressed the issue further, explaining to Darreld all the reasons she would make the perfect donor, and eventually, the father relented. She had made a promise and had every intention to keep it, though it wasn't so simple.
Let The Tests Begin
Donating a kidney isn’t as easy as slicing someone open. Nancy had to take physical exams to make sure her organ would be compatible with Darreld’s body. The results were much better than they could’ve expected.
Genetic Match
Not only was Nancy’s kidney in good health, she also had appropriate genetic correlations to donate to Darreld. It seemed like all the cards were in order, but there was one more test she had to pass.
Psych Exam
Before Nancy could be approved, she had to undergo psychological exams to confirm that she wasn’t donating her kidney because she was insane or under duress. The back and forth proved what everyone already knew: Nancy wasn't crazy; she just had a heart of gold.
Risky Business
After a long period of tests, discussions, and “are you sures,” it was finally time for surgery. Transplant surgeons Alan Reed, Zoe Stewart Lewis, and Daniel Katz led the endeavor. They were qualified and experienced, but like any surgery, there was always a risk.
In The Clear!
Luckily, Darreld and Nancy could both rest easy. The surgery was a great success! “She’s given me and my son a new opportunity at life,” Darreld said. He couldn't believe it. Was this the most selfless act ever committed by a teacher? It may have been, though elementary school teacher Keller Sutherland gave Miss Nancy a run for her money.
Hard Day
"When I see myself as a teacher," Ms. Sutherland (below) said, "it just goes so far beyond the classroom." Teaching boiled over into her personal life; it was a job that required more than 40 hours of attention every week. She did anything for her kids.
Down The Highway
Which was why, one day in February 2019, Ms. Sutherland, couldn't wait to be home and rest. Exhausted from a tough day, she was elated when a school faculty meeting was cancelled. She headed home to her husband a little early — and that's when she spotted the concerning sight.
Help Passing By
While driving home, Ms. Sutherland was talking over the phone with her husband (left). "There’s a small child on his bicycle riding down the road," she told him. There was a ton of traffic at the time, but no one was concerned about the kid. Except Ms. Sutherland.
Following the Call
Feeling she needed to help this boy — because being a teacher didn't stop outside her classroom at the end of the school day — she approached the little biker. That's when she realized: she knew this kid!
A Surprise Reunion
The 7-year-old's name was Cameron Simoncic, and he was one of her students! He was frazzled and out of breath, and he immediately tried explaining himself. The story just poured out him.
Just Another Day
For Cameron, it was an ordinary day in Greenville County, South Carolina. He went to school, was taught by his first-grade teacher, Ms. Sutherland, then he headed home on his own.
Latchkey Kid
Cameron was very independent for his age. His parents believed he could make it to school and back home on his own; all he needed was his trusty bike. And they were right: after school that day he did make it home.
A Change At Home
However, when he returned home that day, something was very different: It was rather quiet in the house. He walked through his home to see if anyone else was there, but he came across a terrifying sight.
Dad in Danger
In the kitchen, he screamed at the sight of his father passed out on the ground! Smart kid that he was, Cameron knew all about his father's medical condition and its consequences.
Unable To Help
Even at his young age, Cameron understood that his father was diabetic and suffered from episodes that left him incapacitated. He couldn't treat his father, so he tried calling for help — but he ran into an issue.
Fatal Episode
The clock was ticking for Cameron's father, who was suffering from a diabetic episode of low insulin levels, which can be fatal. Cameron immediately rushed to call 911 on his dad's cell phone, but there was a problem.
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Locked From Help
When Cameron grabbed his father's phone, he found it was locked! He tried to get the password a few times, but he had no luck. The boy couldn't call for help — not over the phone — so he darted out the front door.
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Pedal to the Metal
Cameron ran to his neighbors, but no one was home to help. Without many other options, he grabbed his bike and peddled as fast as he could to reach someone else who could help: his grandma.
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Dangerous Path
Unfortunately, the emergency trip to grandma's was going to be a 5-mile trek that involved crossing a bustling highway. Still, Cameron had to save his dad. As scared as he was, he pushed forward.
The Meeting Evolves
That's when Ms. Sutherland saw him peddling frantically down the busy road. After listening to his story, she helped him calm down. Dialing 911 on her own phone, she assured Cameron everything would be all right. But she couldn't know for sure.
Support for the Hero
Over Ms. Sutherland's phone, Cameron explained the situation perfectly for emergency workers. He told them his home address and about his fathers' diabetes. From there, EMTs rushed to save his father.
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Medical Care
When EMTs arrived, Cameron's dad was given the insulin he needed. He increased his sugar levels by eating crackers that Ms. Sutherland happened to have on her. Slowly, he regained his strength. Word of the heroism made it back to Ellen Woodside Elementary.
Handling the Future
There, administrators implemented lessons for their students on how to handle emergencies, telling students to know their addresses, important phone numbers, and the medical history of their family members. Ms. Sutherland also took the time to honor Cameron's bravery.
New Lessons Learned
"I am still overwhelmed by the amazing strength and determination this child had to do what he was attempting to do," Ms. Sutherland later explained. "Even though he didn't make it to Grandma's, I am incredibly grateful to have passed by him when I did!"
Happy Ending
The ordeal gave Ms. Sutherland a great deal of confidence — saving a life was all in a day's work! Cameron not only has his dad safe and healthy, but he also has the wonderful teacher who was there for him that day. Across the country in Arizona, Elisabeth Milich most certainly would've done the same.
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Colors and More Colors
See, much like Ms. Sutherland, Elisabeth Milich was a top-notch educator: bright posters hung on her classroom walls, colored pencils filled boxes, and bright note cards were organized in filing cabinets. But in 2019, she let the media in on a little secret.
Paycheck Woes
Anything with color came out of her own paycheck, Elisabeth half-joked. The district gave her some desks, a whiteboard, and a roster of students. Everything else was her responsibility — which made the message she received from a stranger online all the more interesting.
A Facebook Messenger
The overworked and underpaid teacher received a message from a man named Ben Adam (left), whom she'd never met or seen in her life. Even stranger, he apparently lived in New York City, thousands of miles away.
Fed Up
Ben had heard her story via a YouTube clip: In April of 2018, Elisabeth couldn't take it anymore. Furious about the system continually failing to appreciate her, she stormed out. But this teacher didn't just kick her feet up at home. No, she took to the streets.
Teachers Strike Back
She joined 70,000 of Arizona's teachers, who walked out of their classrooms and took to the state capitol in protest. They were unhappy with how those in their profession were treated and demanded recognition — and raises — for their hard work.
Salary Woes
See, the average salary for an Arizona teacher wasn't great; in fact, they made almost $10,000 less than most other teachers in America. Not only that, but their salaries had actually gone down by 14% in the previous ten years — and it got worse.
More to It
Their salaries didn't tell the whole story. Despite minimal pay, teachers spent on average almost $500 of their own money on supplies for their classrooms every year. That's hard-earned money taken out of their paychecks that they didn't get back.
Keeping the Public Informed
So, during the walkout, the teachers organized events to inform the public about their concerns while making sure the students who relied on subsidized lunches still got their daily meals. Best of all, these protests had some serious results.
Senators Get Involved
The teachers' inspiring movement was met with support from their community and many of their leaders. "We are inspired and so proud of the brave and righteous stand that you are taking,” said State Senator Rebecca Rios. But it was something Elisabeth did that really sent a message to Arizonians — and Ben.
Revealing the Paycheck
Elisabeth wanted to show people that she was struggling to get by on her salary while also paying for school supplies out of pocket, so she took to Facebook. There, she shared her thoughts — and her pay — and people took notice.
Every Roll of Tape
Elisabeth wrote, "I buy every roll of tape I use, every paper clip I use, every sharpie I grade with, every snack I feed kids who don't have them, every decorated bulletin board, the list could go on."
College Degrees
"I've debated about posting this but in the end want to show what a teaching salary really looks like in AZ," Elisabeth continued. "I mean really, I need a college degree to make this?"
The Paystub
She then shared a photo of her pay stub — $35,000, or $639 every two weeks. She confessed that, without her husband's paycheck, she likely couldn't live. Her post ended with a stunning final note — one that really grabbed the attention of Ben Platt.
Final Message
Elisabeth finished her post by reminding people of one simple fact: "No one goes into teaching for the money, by all means...but we do need to eat and have a home!" This was what stuck with Ben Adam — and he knew he needed to do something special.
A Stranger's Offer
"Has anybody offered to buy supplies for your classroom?" Ben wrote. Elisabeth was, of course, skeptical of this man's offer. Who was he? How had he heard of her. She'd already been through so much — she couldn't deal with someone taking advantage of her, too.
Making a List
As you might expect, Elisabeth was completely taken aback: "I just thought that was so crazy and there’s gotta be a catch because this man lives in New York!" Somehow, he'd even heard about troubles in Arizona. She gave him a list of all the necessary supplies for a new semester.
Special Delivery
Elisabeth couldn't be certain if Ben was pulling her leg but, sure enough, the supplies arrived shortly after. She was blown away and thrilled that she could finally provide her students with the education they deserved. Ben didn't stop there, either.
Continued Giving
He's paid for all of Elisabeth's supplies for every semester afterwards. And once he heard how many classrooms were in need, he started paying for supplies for five other teachers, too! He had more to do.
Ben's Sympathy
"I have three kids; I'm a working person," said Ben. "I can't imagine trying to live, buy supplies, and support my family on $35,000 a year... I thought to myself, I'm sure with all of the people that have seen her story, somebody has contacted her to say they want to help." And he wasn't done.
Classroom Giving
Ben had another idea up his sleeve: Knowing there were thousands more teachers out there struggling to stock their classrooms, Ben set up Classroom Giving in 2019, a website that let people across the country buy supplies for teachers in need.
Growing Numbers
Since April of that year, the website has helped 37 teachers fully supply their classrooms. The support was overwhelming and allowed these teachers to provide their students with everything from schoolbooks to paint brushes.
Greater Vision
Ben planned to keep expanding the initiative and hoped more local businesses would get involved. His dream was to strengthen the bonds between classrooms and donors by having students visit local businesses and write thank-you notes.
Happy Kids
But it wasn't just the teachers feeling the support. The children receiving the school supplies were thrilled to know there were people in the world who cared about supporting their education. Elisabeth later shared how she really felt.
A Revolution
Elisabeth was hopeful this sparked change for teachers in her state: "To show kids, teachers and school districts that our local businesses are as invested in education as someone across the country is," she said, "could be really revolutionary for the culture of education in Arizona."
In the meantime, Ben's program could go long way in helping dedicated teachers like Leland Michael of Des Moines, Iowa. He knew kids are the future, but he, too, struggled to pay for supplies.
Leland thought education was so important he went into it professionally himself. He taught at Lincoln High School in Des Moines, and he loved working with the young bright students.
In fact, Leland frequently attended teacher rallies around the country to show his support of the hard work they all do on a daily basis. Teaching was often a thankless job, but Leland loved spending time around others who were as dedicated as he was.
Leland and his wife were thrilled to finally start a family of their own, no small feat considering his small salary. While teaching was a rewarding job, it wasn't one that brought home the big bucks. But Leland took it all in stride until that fateful trip to Walmart...
Every year, a few weeks before the fall high school semester started, parents — Leland included — shopped for all the supplies their children needed for the upcoming school year. Having the necessary supplies was important, but Leland knew many of the parents had mixed feelings about it...
Every family came from different economic backgrounds, and it wasn't as easy for some parents to afford all the supplies. And while Leland perused the local Walmart for classroom items, he came across a large group of parents angrily discussing the fact they had to purchase supplies.
They even turned to Leland and started complaining. None of them knew he was a teacher, nor did they know that he was using money from his own pocket to buy supplies for the kids in his classroom.
Leland felt pretty dismayed by what he heard the parents say. None of them had any idea of just how hard public schools had it, how many of them — just like him — had to scrounge for pennies in order to give their students a fighting chance. That's when it happened...
Leland felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He turned around, uneasily. He saw a man with an angry face glaring back at him. Leland was concerned. Was this angry parent going to take out his aggression on him? But then the man finally spoke...
The man asked if Leland was a teacher. When Leland confirmed, the man, who had with him a young daughter, proceeded to thank and praise him for the hard work he and every other teacher in the district put towards the kids. Next, he stuck his hand in his pocket...
...And he offered Leland a $25 gift card to help with the supplies he was buying! It was an act of generosity the likes of which Leland had never encountered before. This was an act of kindness that came from deep within the heart.
Leland used the gift card to help pay for all his classroom supplies, and as he was walking through the parking lot to his car, he spotted the man and his daughter. Leland walked over and thanked the man again for the wonderful gesture. Leland then explained why the gesture was extra special...
Leland told the man about the angered parents he encountered and the comments they made to him. They were completely unaware he was a teacher himself and their comments had very nearly driven him to despair.
But then he met that kind man and his daughter. See, while the angry parents might have brought him down, this man and the positive example he was setting for his daughter had given Leland hope for the future.
That young girl saw her father give the utmost thanks to a teacher, which would have likely meant she would walk into her new classroom at the beginning of the year with respect for her educator. This respect was necessary to attain a particularly special reward...
A college degree! Students who planned on continuing their education after high school needed to look up to their teachers and see them as role models trying to help them be the best they can.
Just because a student wasn't able to gather all of the necessary supplies, it didn't mean they weren't going to succeed. Sure, the supplies helped, but if the student had an eagerness to learn, they'd be just fine. And hopefully, a teacher would spot that desire and help them with the costs.
Leland's wife was always proud of her husband and his drive to educate the youth. She knew the job came with ups and downs, but his passion to help people grow positively was the reason she fell in love him. She planned on sticking by his side through every ebb and flow of his career.
When Leland first heard those angry words, it was impossible not to feel resentment towards the parents' attitudes. But his whole day turned around when he realized there were people out there who truly appreciated him and teachers everywhere.
Teachers have undeniably difficult jobs. How they can ever accomplish what they want to do with so many challenges in their way is beyond belief, but it certainly isn't beyond acknowledgment. But sometimes even the best teachers find their way into trouble.
Jocelyn Morffi is a 32-year-old woman who lives in Miami, Florida. She was a first-grade teacher and she loved what she did, the kids loved her back, and the parents adored her as a teacher. Everything was perfect — or so it seemed.
Jocelyn was well known by the parents and staff and was one of the most popular teachers at the school. Parents of her students praised her and referred to Miss Morffi as the "Mother Teresa of teachers, and for a good reason!
As a teacher of children who are so young and impressionable, Jocelyn found it difficult to talk to her students about the tragedies that occur around the world on a daily basis. She wanted her conversations with them to be filled with hope rather than fear.
Together with her class, she started brainstorming ideas on how to give back to the community and instill hope in her students. They came up with the idea to volunteer at their local homeless shelter.
Jocelyn recalled, "When I came back from that first feeding, I asked the school if it's possible for them to back me up, and I got authorization to send out a letter to the parents stating what's going on and if they would like to contribute in any way."
Additionally, Jocelyn used her platform on social media to start a program to encourage her students, their parents, and the community to join her in her new initiative. She used the hashtag #TeachHope to spread the word.
With her social media campaign and the support of her students, Jocelyn was ready to start her campaign and could only hope that the community followed in her footsteps.
Jocelyn was overwhelmed with support when her students and their parents showed up to volunteer at the homeless shelter with her. Parents also brought generous donations like loves of bread, meats, cheeses, and snacks to bag up and hand out.
Miss Morffi's students were passionate about her new program. A class parent and co-worker stated, "They wake me up bright and early on Sunday saying, 'Mom, we have to teach hope.'" She was an integral part of the school, community, and their lives.
Having their kids spend every day with the "Mother Theresa of teachers" is every parent's dream. That's why the parents were immediately concerned when Jocelyn stopped showing up to school — and very confused.
See, Jocelyn was scheduled to have some time off from work because she was celebrating something very special. She was about to marry the love of her life and best friend. She just assumed when it was all over, her life would return to normal.
Prior to the big day, Jocelyn set up a wedding website to show all of the important information regarding her wedding and to inform her guests of the festivities. She set up a wedding hashtag so her loved ones could follow the event online.
The couple planned a weekend-long celebration at the Key Largo Lighthouse estate. On Friday they held a welcome bash, followed by a seaside wedding ceremony on Saturday, with a goodbye barbecue on Sunday... but things didn't go as planned in the days following.
When parents brought their children to St. Peter and Paul Catholic School following the wedding, they were shocked to see that their beloved teacher had not returned. When the parents learned why Miss Morffi was no longer there, they were outraged.
Since Jocelyn was such a known presence in the community and on social media, the school saw pictures of her wedding ceremony. According to the school, what they saw in those photos left them with no choice but to fire her.
Her Instagram displayed photos of Jocelyn and her wife joining in holy matrimony. Because same-sex marriage is not accepted in the Roman Catholic church, the school relieved Jocelyn of her duties as a teacher at the school.
Jocelyn took to her social media and wrote this: "This weekend I married the love of my life and unfortunately I was terminated from my job as a result. In their eyes, I'm not the right kind of Catholic for my choice in partner."
The parents who didn't follow Miss Morffi on Instagram found out from a letter through the school, which stated that "She is no longer teaching at our school," and it was "a difficult and necessary decision."
The following day, dozens of angry parents showed up at the school. One parent told the news, "We feel cheated. She was the best kind of teacher that you can ask for and our kids, everybody, every parent here — our kids loved her."
Parents threatened to pull their children from the school if she wasn't reinstated. Unfortunately, Catholic schools, like many other schools, are not subject to the states public school laws. So, in the eyes of the Catholic school board, Miss Morffi was in violation of her contract when she married the woman she loved.
As of 2018, Jocelyn was seeking legal advice to figure out her options. Her attorney stated, "Jocelyn is humbled by all the love and support she has received from family, friends, the students' parents, and the public. She feels that the manner of her firing was unfair, not only to her but to her students as well."
Unforunately, it's stories like Jocelyn's that cause many people to still feel the need to keep their sexuality hidden — Christopher Landis was no exception. The 43-year-old has been a teacher and a choir director in Massachusetts for the past six years.
"You always walk into his classroom and he’s always there with a positive attitude and maybe a compliment. He’s just so nice," Summer Foraste, one of Landis’ students, said.
What matters most to Mr. Landis is creating a safe environment where open dialogue is encouraged. His students can talk to him about anything, and they often take him up for it by letting him know what's going on in their lives.
Since Mr. Landis knows so much about his pupils, he wanted to share some personal news with them too, but something left him feeling hesitant. Despite their love for him, he wasn't sure how they would take the news.
See, on Christmas Eve of 2016, Christopher got engaged to the love of his life, and was going to be married two years later, at the end of 2018. The couple was excited but also worried about how people would react.
What nobody knew was that Christopher's significant other was a man named Joe Michienzie. In the past whenever his students or their parents would see them out together he referred to Joe as his "friend".
The school where Mr. Landis works, Hingham Middle School, is located near the coast of Massachusetts. While MA is a fairly liberal state, there are still groups of people who do not feel safe or accepted for who they are.
Mr. Landis wasn’t sure how his beloved students would feel about him being gay. He feared that they might not approve of his lifestyle and relationship, or worse, that they wouldn’t be comfortable around him anymore.
Despite the couple's best efforts to keep their engagement on the hush-hush, parents found out about their upcoming nuptials. Without Mr. Landis' knowledge, they devised a top-secret plan...
"At the end of the summer, I heard he was getting married. He’s the best teacher and he makes every school function fun. We thought, wouldn’t it be awesome to do something for his wedding?" Joy Foraste, whose daughter is one of Landis’ students, said.
Foraste and fellow parent Margit Foley started brainstorming ideas for a surprise in September of 2018. But before starting any real plans, they decided to reach out to make sure it was something Mr. Landis would like.
"We reached out to his fiancé because I wasn’t really sure how he’d feel," Foley explained. "He was immediately on board. He said he had also been trying to figure out how to incorporate the students because they mean so much to Mr. Landis."
A group of parents got together and made sure that all his pupils, from sixth to eighth graders, would attend the couple's wedding with a surprise that would show their full support of their favorite teacher.
"We hoped we’d get at least 15 kids to do it," said Foraste after emailing the parents of about 60 choir kids. "But instead we had over 50 kids. It’s such a testament to Mr. Landis as a teacher and as a figure in their lives."
While Foley and Foraste visited the reception venue to clear their plans with the proprietors, the students worked hard on their surprise with the help of Dona Maher, a private chorus teacher who knew Mr. Landis too.
"I was absolutely delighted and honored when they had asked for my help — it was an instantaneous yes from me," Maher told Wicked Local. "This was a genuinely thoughtful and loving gesture for their teacher."
With Maher on board, the students showed up every Sunday for four weeks to practice their performance. This meant the kids gave up four weekend days to do something nice for their teacher.
It was the day of the wedding rehearsal, and as soon as the children appeared at the ceremony, the two grooms were overcome with emotion. The kids walked in gracefully, lined up with a smile, and began singing an all too familiar Beatles’ tune...
"There's nothing you can do that can't be done, nothing you can sing that can't be sung, nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game. It's easy — all you need is love."
When Mr. Landis realized what was happening, he instantly started to cry. "I noticed everyone was holding video cameras and I was wondering, like, 'What’s going on?'" Landis told Inside Edition.
"Then I saw the first student come in and I was like 'Oh my goodness,' but I don’t think it hit me until all of these students came in, and they were smiling and all dressed up. I started crying and they started crying."
The whole performance was filmed and posted online, where it soon went viral. "I still get choked up watching it," a newly-wedded Joe told The New York Times.
"I always referred to him as my friend because I wasn’t sure how the kids or parents would take it," Landis said. "When they came to sing I felt like they were basically saying: 'It’s okay. We know who Joe is.' So now I say: 'Joe, my husband.'"
At the end of the video, one of the students’ mom's comes up to Landis to explain the whole situation and inform him about how much they practiced. He was truly blown away by their dedication.
"As a middle-school teacher, I see students struggle to figure out who they are and to deal with personal issues. I was so glad they were there, feeling the love in the room and knowing everything’s going to be okay... that things do work out." But for one student, things didn't exactly work out.
See, up until recently, Kayla Kenney was your average 15-year-old girl, living in Louisville, Kentucky, and attending Whitefield Academy — a local private high school — with her friends.
Kayla was happy. She had an active social life, loved spending time with her tight-knit family, and participated in many wholesome activities including her lifelong passion for athletics.
Kayla had a birthday coming up, one she was very excited to celebrate. However, what was supposed to be a celebratory event filled with food, fun, friends, and family, brought one of the most harrowing experiences of her young life.
In preparation for her big day, Kayla requested a cake. She asked the bakers to make one that included frosting in "assorted colors," and when she received the festive confection, she was very pleased with the result.
However, after the partying was over, Kayla's mother posted a picture of the smiling teen, wearing a rainbow sweater and posing next to the cake on Facebook. The backlash would be swift and severe.
Soon after, the family received notice from Dr. Bruce Jacobson, head of the school, that Kayla was being expelled. They were completely blindsided. Kayla was a generally good student and hardly got into trouble.
They quickly realized that the reason Kayla was being made to leave the school that she loved so much was because administrators, including Jacobson, believed the cake was representative of LGBTQ pride.
Both Kayla and her mother denied this, with mom Kimberly saying, “I just feel like it’s a label [school officials] have put on her. Just because I’m wearing a rainbow doesn’t mean I’m gay."
In fact, the code of conduct at Whitefield Academy and the rules contained in it are very strict and controversial in general. Some of them are honestly difficult to fathom.
Among other things, the school reserves the right to expel students if their “home environment is not in harmony with the school’s doctrinal belief in the centrality of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture and Biblical lifestyle.”
While the former could be interpreted in many different ways, the guidelines go on to state specific things they believe to be in violation of this statute. Among these are "homosexual orientation" and "sexual immorality."
For its part, the academy has not relented in defending their decision to kick Kayla out, in part saying that their rules are in line with Kentucky law, and not unlike the guidelines at similar religious institutions...
The school also claims steadfastly that the picture was not the sole reason for Kayla's abrupt expulsion, calling these reports "inaccurate" and stating that Kayla had a long history of violating their strict rules.
Among the infractions that Jacobson is referring to include an event that occurred in October, when Juul pods were found in the student's backpack. However Kayla's mother insisted that since then, there have been no incidents of misbehavior.
In any case, the school said the birthday photo in question “demonstrates a posture of morality and cultural acceptance contrary to that of Whitefield Academy’s beliefs,” and went on to state that it constituted “lifestyle violations."
Ultimately, Kayla lost her battle for justice and was forced to leave the school that she had called home for the past two years. However, there was one silver lining...
Rather than being listed as an expulsion, the official account states that Kayla's leaving was a "voluntary departure" — a good thing, because this way it won't go down on her permanent record.
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As for Kayla's mental state, her mother Kimberly reports that she is adjusting well, as she is a very resilient young woman, but that understandably she also "seems stressed and overwhelmed at times."
Kimberly also had some choice words for Whitefield Academy itself. "I just feel like those religious beliefs they are imposing now are very judgmental,” she reflected. “That’s not what I wanted for her".
Kimberly and Kayla have decided to proceed with a lawsuit against the school for violating its own disciplinary code, but Whitefield Academy isn't backing down. But Kayla's not alone in this fight.
See, Kayla's story is a tragic one, but unfortunately some cases have been even more heartbreaking in their magnitude. One teen named Seth Owen has a similar story that took a much more tragic turn.
Growing up in Florida, Seth seemed like a model son and student. Below the surface, however, his personal life was far from perfect; in fact, it was teetering on the verge of collapse.
Things were always great in the classroom, however. Ever since he was a little boy, Seth made sure to study hard. He was going to do whatever it took to attend a good college.
“I was the nerd in fifth grade who walked around recess talking about how I wanted to be an astronaut,” Owen said. “I was always in a textbook, always in the library, always reading something.”
But everything changed one evening during high school. While Owen was busy putting the finishing touches on a homework assignment, his dad opened up the teen's phone. He found something shocking on the device.
Owen's father found some pictures and had immediate questions. First, he wanted to know how his son, who was a successful student athlete, was doing. Then, he revealed what photo he'd found on his son's phone.
“He found a damning photograph of me and another guy," Owen remembered. "Nothing inappropriate, but it clearly indicated that I was gay.” That caused a big problem for his parents.
Owen's parents were strict Southern Baptists and unwilling to accept his sexuality. Rather than supporting their son, they saw him as a problem; they were going to try to fix it.
They started sending the teenager to a Christian counselor, hoping that would help. "It was definitely awkward conversion therapy where they tried encouraging stereotypical masculine tasks and things like that,” Owen remembered.
After a few months, Owen stopped visiting the counselor. His parents were unwilling to relent on one other decision, however. Their son still needed to attend church, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Given the congregation's views about sexuality, Owen didn't feel comfortable attending services. He asked to pray at another church, but his parents refused. If he didn't want to worship with them, he would have to move out.
Seth didn't want to leave, but he couldn't deny who he truly was. With a heavy heart, the teenager packed his bags and headed for the door; from that day forward, he would fend for himself.
The upheaval didn't change his academic performance, however. Despite spending nights on his friends' couches, the teen was still accepted into Georgetown University. His college dream was finally coming true.
A few weeks after leaving home, Owen received his admissions packet from the school. When he opened it and poured over the paperwork, though, his heart dropped. There must have been a mistake.
When Georgetown calculated Owen's financial aid package, they factored in his parents' income. Since he was now on his own, there was no way the teen could afford his tuition payments.
Understandably, Seth was crushed. He had spent his entire life working towards a college acceptance — and thought he had received it — only to lose his grip on the opportunity at the last second.
One of his teachers, Jane Martin, realized that Owen was struggling, even if he didn't want to admit it. She pulled a few of her colleagues together, and they tried to set things right.
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Martin set up a GoFundMe page hoping to pay her student's tuition. "I know the goal seems unrealistic and the circumstances aren’t ideal, but I also know communities can make the impossible possible,” she wrote.
Before anyone realized what was happening, the page had raised over $100,000. Not only could Seth attend Georgetown, but he came to understand something even more important: people cared about him.
"He has had so much support,” Martin said. “I'm just excited for him to have this community literally come around and put all of our arms together and bring him up and raise him up.”
By sharing his story, Owen hoped to inspire other teens to love themselves, no matter what. "I would tell that sophomore kid to hold their head high, roll their shoulders back and be exactly who they are,” he said.
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