It seems nowadays every student wants to go viral. One local teacher beat them to it.
Hugh Mercer Elementary School Assistant Principal Tony Wishard made waves online recently with his TikTok video recapping memories with students both past and present. You may have been one of the nearly 5 million people who watched it over the last month since it was published.
The photo montage features the former PE teacher supporting his students both in and out of the classroom over his 12 year career, from helping kids with hygiene and dressing properly to visiting them at work to present awards and saying goodbyes at graduation. For some students, Wishard serves as father figure at school in lieu of one that might not be entirely present at home.
Wishard spent the remaining days of last school year editing the video with pictures of the different students he’s connected with over the years. For the 12-year teacher, the process of unwinding at the end of the day after a long year by capturing the memories with students was cathartic.
“Sometimes it’s tough transitioning from one school year to another one. You’ve said goodbye to some kids that you’ve built a relationship with for almost six years,” Wishard reflects.
“Every now and then you need a reminder of why you got into this business.”
The entire viral experience was an accident.
The video, which was sitting as a work-in-progress within Wishard’s TikTok drafts, was posted by accident by his young son while playing with the phone. By the time Wishard realized the draft was published, it already had thousands of views. Wishard’s video had already used emojis to protect student identities, so he decided to roll with it.
And roll it did.
The video, which was reuploaded by Upworthy with Wishard’s blessings, has since reached another 5 million views on Instagram. Thousands of comments from people around the world expressed gratitude and appreciation for sharing his efforts. Many users remembered the impact a particular teacher had on them.
“So beautiful to see the incredible impact one person can make. The world needs more Mr. Wishards,” one user wrote.
Despite receiving a number of offers of support, Wishard is adamant he is doing just fine handling his current responsibilities, which include an after school program Boys & Bowties for young male students. He sees the joy the video brought others as the reward.
“It’s neat to see their perspective from parents, students and then also, people I didn’t know, just sharing their stories,” reflects Wishard. He wasn’t shy in his replies to those that reflected on their teachers fondly.
“You should reach out to that teacher. I guarantee they remember you.”
