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A teacher in Texas named Leigha Bishop is going viral for one of the most adorable images to ever come out of a classroom. In Bishop's original post, she says she had to copy her student's updo because it was just "so cute."
And look how happy it made that 4-year-old to see her teacher wearing the same look:
Bishop told Buzzfeed News that she had planned the hairstyle as a surprise. She'd told her student she loved her her Fulani braids, but the child was skeptical that her teacher would follow through on the promise to braid her hair, too.
"Of course she didn't believe me,"said Bishop. But she went home and enlisted her mom to help, and they was soon looking great.
Bishop doesn't have too many twitter followers, but the image went viral after graphic designer J'Ardoin Janǽ tweeted it out:
This teacher, Ms. Bishop from Lakeview Elementary in Sugarland, Tx complimented one of her student’s hair saying she loved it, but the little girl didn’t believe her. The next day, the teacher came to school with her hair done the same as her student so cute! pic.twitter.com/jdVc3eDIDq
The picture had been retweeted over 40,000 times. Folks in the replies say they know Bishop, and what a great teach she is:
This is my 5 yr old brothers teacher. She’s so loving and amazing. I’m so glad she’s his teacher. I email her to make sure he’s doing good in school and go on their field trips together. pic.twitter.com/oLWY2mnhtp
Wow!!! Thank you so much sharing💕💫 this is just me simply living my purpose....teaching children (and all people) to feel whole & loved!! Thank you again for sharing🤗
I know you don't get paid enough and Texas educational laws are not on your side, but YOU matter! What YOU do matters. You are living out "be the change you want to see in the world".
Ms. Bishop Words of encouragement to lil girls have great impact...she’s listening & watching. What an inspiration you are! 👏🏿💃🏿👏🏿More teachers are needed like you! 👸🏿
Someone from Bishop's school even chimed in with a story about why representation matters to them:
I also attended this school my entire elementary years, & would you believe that this is my first time ever seeing a black person who worked at the school that wasn’t a custodian an actual teacher?? Wow times have changed! The students were diverse, but the teachers weren’t.
And THIS is why I love LVE!! The diversity of students is just unreal. Because of that, I am able to reach and touch soooo many students and families of different cultures and most importantly....my own!💕💫🤗
Bishop told Buzzfeed News that making her students feel powerful and good about themselves is the most important part of her job.
"What I love most about being a teacher is the power I have to pour light into each and every little soul that steps foot in my classroom day after day," she said. "Whether you're in Pre-K or fourth grade, being taught to love yourself and being taught you are whole is VITAL!"
She continued, "While I am teaching them content needed to grow and move on to the next grade level, I am also teaching them to love themselves a little more for the next challenge they might face in the next stage of development. It is with the connections and relationships that I am able to help students succeed academically, and it is with those same connections and relationships that I am able to possibly save lives of children who never knew what being whole felt like."
Bishop's perspective is needed in the classroom, and the story of the work she does is incredible. But you can see all of it in that little girl's smile.
