Everyone has different needs, so to be a good teacher, people have to get creative.
Lauren Watts of Fort Mill, South Carolina, is a great example! The physical education instructor at Harrisburg Elementary School went above and beyond to make sure an 8-year-old student named Jorgy, who uses a wheelchair, was included.
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While the rest of the class was learning to jump rope in 2018, Jorgy became discouraged. It seemed impossible for him to manage in his wheelchair, so he went to Lauren with his concerns.
“He said, ‘I really do want to jump rope like all the other kids,'” Lauren recalled. “As soon as I saw that face, and he was talking to me about it, I knew I just had to make it happen. There was no other way.”
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The solution she came up with was brilliant! In a video Lauren posted online, we see her using her stomach to push Jorgy’s chair forward while she flings the rope up and around them. Then they race down a hallway together. With the little boy’s arms in the air, it’s obvious he’s having a great time!
“It’s like the greatest feeling,” he said later. “It’s so special, you know?”
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The video quickly went viral and got this incredible boy a new nickname: “Jump-Roping Jorgy.”
Jorgy loves the attention and hopes his story will inspire others to believe in themselves. “You can try anything if you try hard enough,” he said. “I tried, and I mastered it.”
As for his wonderful teacher, she had an important message to share: “This is the reason why I do what I do. In my profession I’m able to help children experience things they were told they would never be able to do.”
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What a perfect match! Lauren will do just about anything to help her students succeed, and Jorgy will always find ways to “fly.” We can all learn from their unstoppable example!
Learn more about Lauren and Jorgy in the video below, and don’t forget to share their story with your friends.
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