There are a lot of great teachers in the world, but every once in awhile, one comes along that is truly outstanding. Being a teacher is sometimes way more than teaching the students during school hours.
We can think of a couple teachers that truly went above and beyond. For example, Sonya Romera who uses her own money to make sure her students have clothes and food. She has even taken students into her home. Then there’s Angela McQueen who overtook a school shooter, potentially saving many lives in the process.
Recently, we heard about another teacher who went above and beyond for his students. He didn’t take them into his home or save their lives, but he did an act of kindness that we’re sure they’ll never forget.
At age 32, Luke Reece, father to Alivia Reece, 7, and Avery Reece, 8, passed away after suffering from cardiac arrest. We can only imagine how devestating and heartbreaking a loss this was for his daughters
Alivia and Avery’s former 2nd-grade teacher, Steve Culbert, went to the hospital to visit Luke and his wife, Shelley Reece, before Luke passed away. He know the outlook looked grim. He also knew that a father-daughter dance was coming up at school, and his heart went out to Alivia and Avery, who weren’t just his former students but were also friends with his own daughters, Aliyah Culbert, 6, and Hailey Culbert, 8.
Culbert and his wife discussed the situation, and she told him he needed to take the Reece girls to the dance.
Culbert told “Good Morning America,” “My daughters were excited to take their friends with us. I wanted to make it as big of night as possible for these girls.”
He did more than just escort the girls to the dance. He showed up in a stretch limo and treated them to beauty treatments. The community pitched in to buy dresses for the four girls in their favorite colors. After the dance, he took all the girls out for ice-cream.
Shelley Reece told “Good Morning America,” “I am forever grateful. Having Avery come home that evening and tell me Mr. Culbert brought her smile back was all a mother could ask for.”
For more on this inspirational story, and to find out what Culbert plans to do to help the girls in the future, watch the video below.
Is there a teacher who went above and beyond for you or your children?