Teacher Appreciation Week was still months away, but seniors in Jeff Swicegood’s English class at Providence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, didn’t want to wait. The 12th graders quietly pooled their own money and planned a surprise for their long-term substitute teacher, someone they felt truly seen by.
During class, they presented Swicegood, 42, with a box containing a simple but deeply personal gift: a pair of Vans slip-on shoes, the same style he wears almost every day. Before he even opened the box, Swicegood became emotional. When he saw the shoes, his reaction turned into tears as his students erupted into cheers.
“We were all crying with him,” said 18-year-old Kalea Shak, who filmed the moment and shared it on TikTok, where it quickly went viral.
The gesture meant even more because of what Swicegood has endured in recent years. His mother, Margaret Swicegood, a longtime teacher and his best friend, died of metastatic breast cancer after he cared for her in her final days. His father, also an educator, passed away when Swicegood was just eight years old. He has spoken openly about how those losses have weighed on his mental health, especially during the holidays.
@kaleashak123456 This is #hopecore we got him a pair of Christmas vans #viralworthy #megatable ♬ lovers’ carvings – Bibio
“What they did made me feel so special,” Swicegood said. “I was like, ‘Wow, someone thought of me.’ They reminded me that I matter.”
Students say the gift was their way of giving back to a teacher who consistently shows up for them. Swicegood, who also coaches track and cross country, is known for leaving his own struggles at the door and remembering the little details about his students’ lives.
“We just wanted him to know how much he means to us,” Shak said. “He makes us feel cared for, and we wanted to return that feeling.”
Online, viewers praised both the teacher and the students, calling the moment a reminder of the lasting impact kindness and gratitude can have, especially when someone needs it most.
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