This teacher just won Mr. Congeniality 2017.
Barry White, Jr. is the fifth grade English teacher at Ashley Park PreK-8 School in Charlotte, North Carolina who made personalized handshakes with every one of his students.
Each handshake is inspired by the student’s personality. White’s inspiration is basketball player LeBron James after noticing the athlete does the same thing with his teammates.
Watch the adorable practice here:
It started with one simple handshake last year with a 4th grader. “She would wait for me every morning before she’d go to class. She’d get in trouble sometimes for being late because she’d wait on the handshake,” he said on what got him the idea.
How does he remember the moves though? “It’s muscle memory at this point,” White, Jr. said. “I do it so much with them. They love coming up to me and doing it.”
“You see that bond and how close they are,” he said of the Cavs. “I wanted to bring that feeling into the entire 5th grade.”
Their principal Meaghan Loftus commends him. “The only way to help our scholars achieve at high levels every day is to embrace the need for a meaningful and deep relationships. Barry’s handshakes represent his own authentic take on building those relationships.”
We love you, Sir Barry! Looks like we have our faith in humanity restored again. 😛
