CINCINNATI — Taft High School went viral on TikTok last week with a heartwarming teacher appreciation video.
Athletic Director Austin Gullett shared a video showing what the football team's seniors did ahead of the Senators' Senior Day on Oct. 19.
"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," Gullett wrote in the TikTok's caption.
The video shows each senior handing their jersey to their chosen staff member, with some of the honorees getting emotional.
"I was really hoping you would pick me," one staff member responded after receiving a jersey.
"Oh really?" another staff member replied. "Thank you. This is humbling."
Watch the full video:
@austintgullett 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 ♬ Emotional - Bang Nono
Gullet told WCPO he was hoping to brighten everyone's spirits.
"There's been so much negativity around our school that I wanted to do something positive for our students but also for our staff," Gullett said.
Rachel Watka, an English teacher at the high school, says the gesture by the kids was a lesson for her.
"Being at Taft has taught me that it's more than just what you do in the classroom, it's how you show up out of the classroom," Watka said.
Watka and Gullett say they're thrilled to see their kids shine in a positive light.
"People like to say our kids are at risk based off of the economic status they have or where they come from or what they look like, but for me, they're a promise," Gullett said.
The more than two-minute-long video has amassed more than 10 million views, 1.8 million likes and 22,000 comments, including a comment from the NFL's official TikTok.
"I'm literally crying," one TikTok user commented. "Teachers are so unappreciated. I love this for both the teachers and students."
"As a teacher this melted my heart," another user wrote.
Interim Principal Aketa Barrow told us the video has brought a new energy into the building — and it appears to have helped the Senators to a win. They beat the Aiken Falcons on Senior Day, 50-0.
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