US teacher's amazing individual handshakes with all his pupils captured on film

Personalised: Barry White Jr greets his pupils in different fashion before they enter class at a school in North Carolina
NBC
Jamie Bullen2 February 2017

A US primary school teacher has captured the hearts of the nation after footage emerged of his unique handshakes with each of his pupils.

Barry White Jr, a fifth-grade English teacher at Ashley Park Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina, performs the personalised greetings with his 10 and 11-year-old students before they start lessons.

And videos of his various hand slaps and fist bumps, inspired by basketball icon LeBron James, have reportedly received more than 29 million views online.

Mr White Jr has also featured on US breakfast show Good Morning America.

He said the handshakes made sure the pupils were “pumped” before they start class as he explained how the gimmick grew from a couple of children to his entire class.

He told ABC News: “They know when they get to the front door we do our ‘good mornings,’ and then it’s time to go.

“I’m always pumped up and then we start doing the moves and that brings them excitement and pumps them up for a high-energy class.

“I started with one simple handshake last year with a 4th grader.

“She would wait for me every morning before she’d go to class. She’d get in trouble sometimes for being late because she’d wait on the handshake."

Inspiration: Mr White Jr said he started the handshakes after watching LeBron James on the basketball court
NBC

“This year I started making handshakes with the kids at recess. It was just one or two students and then it became contagious.

“I saw how much it meant to them, so I said, ‘Come on. Everyone come on.’ Then it was my full class, then it was kids from other classes. Now I have 3rd graders wanting to do it too.”

Mr White Jr said he was inspired to start the trend after he noticed LeBron James switch up his handshakes with his teammates at NBA team Cleveland Cavaliers.

He added: “You see that bond and how close they are. I wanted to bring that feeling into the entire 5th grade.”

Principal Meaghan Loftus said meaningful relationships were key to ensuring pupils achieve at high levels.

She told ABC News: “Barry’s handshakes represent his own authentic take on building those relationships.

“When I walk into my teachers’ rooms, I see the impact of those strong and trusting relationships.”

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