x
Breaking News
More () »

Teachers Stun Students with Epic Dance Videos

If you watch one story about a school this year, make it this one.

Western New York has a well-deserved reputation for being a good place to grow up with a lot of really great people; so it's probably not exactly surprising to hear teachers at a Williamsville school are doing something to help in the fight against cancer.

Let me tell you something, though. You've never seen teachers like this.

"I nearly...went on the floor," said Casey Middle School eighth grader Lisa Munana.

Classmate Tommy Cunningham agrees, "Mr. Bender hopped out of the car with his gold coat on."

If it doesn't seem like a conversation about the average goings-on of a typical middle school, it's because there is nothing average or typical about it.

"You've got our fifth grade teacher dressed like a burrito, eating a burrito, spiking a burrito in the parking lot of the school," explains math specialist Harry O'Malley.

O'Malley, Cunningham and Munana are talking about an epic series of lip sync videos done entirely by teachers at Casey Middle School. O'Malley, who shoots and edits the videos, explained that it all started with a silly skit the teachers did about five years ago at a school talent show. With that under their belts, they got the idea to make a short video and then another. The videos really took off and that gave the teachers an idea.

"Let's start using that popularity for a cause," O'Malley said.

That's how Teachers Beat Cancer became a thing. Since people were watching the videos anyway, they decided to use them as a way to get volunteers and donations for local and national cancer organizations via their Teachers Beat Cancer website. Harry says the response has been amazing and overwhelming. Some of the best feedback comes straight from students.

"I didn't really expect it from them but when it did happen I thought, 'oh wow. look at how amazing our teachers are because they are doing it for a great cause,'" said Cunningham.

Munana says she's really proud to have teachers who care and aren't afraid to take risks. "I think it's really inspiring that you need to go outside your comfort zone and just be who you are and have fun doing it."

"It does work to humanize us a little bit," said math teacher Casey Pulaski whose dancing is almost as popular with her students as the unicorn onesie she's wearing in one of the videos. "They don't see us as these boring adults but we're actually fun and we know how to dance sometimes."

Engineering and Technology teacher Timothy Bender's 24K Bruno Mars dance moves are getting rave reviews. The teachers say it's gratifying to reach students in this whole new way.

"I've just learned that...even reaffirming to myself that it's okay to kind of have fun and not take yourself too seriously. So, that's a good lesson for everyone I think," said Bender.

At the of the day, they're not just teachers or teachers beating cancer.

They're family--uniting a school, helping their community and celebrating life.

O'Malley says local organizations have reported back saying the Teachers Beat Cancer videos have helped connect them with donations and new volunteers.

You can watch the videos and learn more about how you can help here: teachersbeatcancer.com

Before You Leave, Check This Out