After not seeing their students for over two months due to coronavirus lockdown measures, teachers all over the United States are missing their pupils like never before. Now, one teacher in Georgia is deciding to do something about it, and he’s inspiring others all over the nation to as well.
Bill McAllister is a teacher at Big Shanty Intermediate School in Kennesaw who last taught class on March 16, before COVID-19 put a stop to in-person teaching for the year. Not content with being away from his students for long, McAllister mapped out a route of running six to eight miles per day to encourage his kids and brighten up their days a bit during this unprecedented time.
“I knew my kids were at home and they were missing school and everybody else and I thought well why don’t I run through their neighborhoods and see them, give them a smile, pick up their day a little bit,” McAllister told Fox 5 Atlanta. “I had to figure out where everybody lived and figure out the most advantageous route to get from one place to another.”
McAllister had quadruple bypass surgery a few years ago, but he has not let this stop him from running six to eight manageable miles per day to visit his students. The educator went on to say that he is donating money for each mile he runs to MUST Ministries, a volunteer organization that helps those in need with meals, clothing, housing, and other essential items.
“One of the things that was on my mind is that there are kids with parents not working and they’re food insecure, so I decided I was going to make a per-mile donation to MUST Ministries,” said McAllister.
“I have been thinking about all of you and worrying about all of you. And getting to see you makes me a little bit calmer and a whole lot more happy,” McAllister was seen telling a student named Mia Strickland during one run. “You have a great summer and we will see you in fifth grade.”
Mia was visibly touched by her teacher coming to see her.
“To me, it’s pretty awesome, just the other day I was thinking about him,” she said.
When nobody is home, an undeterred McAllister simply leaves a positive note on the mailbox.
‘Letting them know that their teachers are still out there, we still care about what they’re doing and we hope they’re doing their best,” he said.
McAllister is hoping that what he is doing will inspire others to step up and do something kind for those around them.
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This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.
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