I love when my viewers send me videos.
And I really loved the ones I receive
from an elementary school near Dallas, Texas.
They make music videos with their students,
and have been trying to get my attention all year long.
Take a look.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Shoot for the AP classes, so I can rise above the masses.
Take that ACT.
Be the best I can be.
Before I go, listen close.
I'm repping Como.
For the win.
These girls are the future.
It's a sight to see.
Like Michelle in '08 with Barack and Joe B. A true family.
We stand high above the trees.
We used to be ashamed.
Now we're first in the game.
Those--
[CHEERING]
[APPLAUSE]
Those were the students and staff from the Leadership
Academy at Como Elementary.
The school's principal, counselor, and math teacher
are in my audience today.
So Valencia, Tomeka, and Thomas-- come on down.
[APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CHEERING]
Hi.
[APPLAUSE]
Pass that down, please.
Hello.
Hi.
Wow.
So, I'm assuming you're Thomas.
And you are?
I'm Valencia.
Valencia and Tomeka.
Tomeka.
OK--
Yes.
--great.
So, you're the math teacher.
Yes.
Oh, my god.
Yes, Ellen.
Yes.
All right.
[LAUGHTER]
But you're the one who's responsible for making
these music videos.
Tell me why you started doing that.
Basically, the school in which we teach in Fort Worth, Texas,
has low socioeconomic neighborhoods.
Our kids are coming from different areas.
A lot of them have single-parent homes.
And I wanted to relate with our kids through music.
And I've been trying to do this for 12 years.
It's been a really, really long time
trying to get on this show to show
that our kids are doing what they need
to do to be better individuals.
I really appreciate it.
[APPLAUSE]
So, you started-- I mean, you can see that they're learning
and they're engaged.
And I understand it's made a lot of progress, right?
Absolutely.
I've been at Como for four years now.
And when I first was appointed principal at Como Elementary,
we were one of the lowest performing elementary schools
in the district.
And I made a vow to our community
that, within three years, we would turn that campus around.
And I'm happy to say that last year we moved from an F
to a B campus, and we're knocking
on the door of an A campus.
[APPLAUSE]
Yes.
That's amazing.
All right.
And Tomeka, you're the counselor.
Yes, ma'am.
And they are your children, right?
Yes.
They are.
My sons.
My daughters.
I call all of them my sons, my daughters.
There is absolutely nothing I wouldn't do for them,
because they are me.
They are exactly how I was growing up--
just a different side of town.
And I just-- when I think about them,
and I think about everything that they go through,
my heart just--
word's can't even describe how much I love those children.
Well, and they-- the fact of how fortunate they
are to have teachers and people in their lives
that love them that much.
Because that is going to change everything for them,
as you know.
It already has.
They feel that.
They know the investment.
And you could have been somewhere else,
but why Como for you?
I love working for underdogs.
And the perception of kids--
minority students, specifically, in low income areas--
a lot of time, the perception is that those kids can't do it.
They are not going to perform well.
And I believe it is my calling to work
with students that other people may toss to the side.
And I love proving people wrong.
Yeah.
And, more importantly, I was one of those kids.
I have a very similar background to many
of the students in my building.
Farther in and out of prison.
A lot of our students just have dealt with more things
than we, as adults, could ever imagine.
And I feel like it is my calling to work with my babies.
Those are our students.
And we have a thing at our school where we say, if not us,
then who?
If we're not working with them, then
who else is going to do it?
Well, they know that you love them that much,
and they are very grateful.
And they wanted to say something to you.
Aw.
My favorite thing about my teachers
is that they are loving and caring.
They make me feel amazing about myself,
and make me feel like I can accomplish anything in life.
I know I got somebody out there loving me for who I am.
They show me support and they encourage me to do better.
They make me feel like my second mom and dad.
Principal Rhines makes me feel happy because usually you
starts her day with a smile.
She makes me feel special.
And even when I'm doing a little bit too much,
she's always-- she's still there for me.
She's almost like my best friend.
Mr. Mayfield makes me feel grateful to have him,
because he doesn't just talk about math,
he also talks about life.
And that's what's going to make me feel prepared.
Mr. Mayfield makes me feel like I
can do anything if I set my mind to it and work for it.
Ms. McGee makes me feel very welcome.
Ms. McGee makes me feel like I'm her daughter.
What I want to say my teachers is that I love you guys.
Thank you for inspiring me.
Thank you for encouraging me.
Thank you good dealing with my shenanigans
and my over-thinking.
[LAUGHTER]
Because of my teachers, I believe
I can graduate from Harvard and become a NASA rocket scientist.
[CHEERING]
Because of my teachers, I believe I can go to college
and be a role model for everybody in the city.
Because of our teachers, I believe
I can-- and know I can-- succeed in life.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[APPLAUSE]
They are adorable.
We have one more surprise after this.
We're back with Valencia, Thomas, Tomeka from the Como
Elementary school just outside of Dallas, Texas.
And we know how important your students are,
so we have one more surprise.
Jeannie.
Are you there?
[CHEERING]
Ah.
Hi, Ms. McGee!
Hi, Ms. Rhines!
Hi, Mr. Mayfield!
Hi, y'all!
[LAUGHTER]
So, Jeannie-- and hi, everybody.
Hi, kids.
How are you?
Say, hi, to Ellen!
Hi!
[LAUGHTER]
All right.
What is going on there?
Oh, my gosh, Ellen.
I have had the best day here.
This school-- they are the true definition of a community.
These kids are so intelligent.
They are so hardworking.
And I have two students here that I want
to say something to you, Ellen.
So, this is Sage.
This is Daniel.
Sage, what did you want to say to Ellen?
We love you, Ellen, so much because you spotlighted
amazing teachers here at Como Elementary, and we love you.
Well, I love you, too, Sage.
[APPLAUSE]
She said she loves you, too.
And what about you, Daniel?
What did you want to say to Ellen?
Ellen, I just want to say thank you for having a kind
and giving heart.
And all of these students want to grow up
to be just like you, one day.
[APPLAUSE]
Isn't that awesome, Ellen?
[APPLAUSE]
Well--
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you, so much.
You have a kind and loving heart.
And I want to grow up to be just like you.
That's what I want.
I think all of you are amazing.
And I love how hard you work.
And I love that you have these dreams, because you can do
anything you put your mind to.
All you have to do is work.
And you all are going to be amazing.
I can't wait to see what you do with your lives
when you grow up.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING]
Yes, they are.
All right.
So you have a food pantry, right?
Because a lot of times they don't have food at home,
so you give them food there.
We do.
It initially started with teachers,
out of their own pocket, just buying snacks and things for us
to send home bags with students on the weekend.
Well, I guarantee you, there are some people watching right now
that are going to donate.
So all you have to do is go to our website,
and we're going to direct you to them so that--
Thank you.
--you can help them out, because--
Thank you.
--I know that everybody at home is feeling the same that we're
all feeling in this room.
And you know that we've partnered with Cheerios
to reward amazing people who are going above and beyond.
And you are definitely going above and beyond.
So Cheerios is going to donate $20,000 to provide food
for your pantry.
[CHEERING]
Thank you!
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
Also, Cheerios has a program called Box Tops for Education,
and your school is getting an additional $30,000
to purchase laptops for your students.
[CHEERING]
[APPLAUSE]
So that's $50,000 from Cheerios.
We'll be right back.
Hi, I'm Andy.
Ellen asked me to remind you to subscribe to her channel
so you can see more awesome videos.
Like videos of me getting scared or saying embarrassing things.
Like ball peen hammer.
And also some videos of Ellen and other celebrities--
if you're into that sort of thing.
[SCREAMING]
[BLEEP]
God [BLEEP]!