These students really know how to win the principal’s favor.
Students at a Georgia high school played a prank on their beloved principal on his birthday, pretending to fight so he would stop it and then they could surprise him by performing “Happy Birthday.”
In a now-viral video, Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School Principal Bobby Davis runs into the room where the fake fight is taking place, puts his arms around a student, and pulls him back.
When Davis turned around, he saw a group of teachers and students gathered filming and clapping, and he realized it was just a joke.
He reacted pricelessly, jumping happily into the student’s arms and hugging him, and the heartwarming video has been viewed 5.7 million times on Facebook.
He then jumped into the arms of another student, and the two ended up hugging Davis together as the school sang “Happy Birthday.”
De’Zayviun Watkins, who came up with the idea for the epic prank, wrote a touching tribute to Davis in the comments section of the post.
“He single-handedly made me a better person and he knew I would never take it for granted. The things he did during my time at LFO are truly memories that will last a lifetime. I’m so excited to come up with this idea and do it for him,” he wrote.
This is Davis’ first year as head of LFO. The father of three graduated from the school in 1994 and taught English there in 1999 and served as a coach until 2005, returning as deputy principal in 2023, according to the school’s website.
The film sparked an outpouring of love from friends and strangers alike. Those who knew Davis said the tribute was “well-deserved.”
“That’s the kind of person Coach Davis is! He is indeed a great person,” one netizen wrote.
Another said: “He was really well-liked by those students.”
Complete strangers also commented on the inspiring video.
“It’s people like him who change kids’ lives. And I don’t even know him,” one wrote.
“That’s why they say ‘not all heroes wear capes.'” What a legend! ” gushed another.
Others said they were brought to tears by the sight of the principal’s close relationship with students.
“Well, I cried when he jumped into his arms,” one said.
“Same,” answered the other. “You can tell the kids love him, which is so important!”
“Girls too,” said a third.
“It’s so beautiful. You can feel the love.”