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  • You all know how much I love teachers,

  • and I'm feeling especially grateful for them right now,

  • so today, we're going to surprise

  • an incredible first grade teacher from Oakland,

  • California who's been staying connected

  • to students by reading to them every day during quarantine.

  • He's also been going out of his own pocket

  • to support his students' families.

  • Wow.

  • His name is Peter Limata, and right now, he

  • thinks he's about to Zoom with a producer.

  • He is, but the producer's me.

  • Let's go.

  • Hi, Peter!

  • No!

  • [CHUCKLES]

  • No!

  • Yes!

  • Oh!

  • Wait, you're the producer?

  • [INAUDIBLE]

  • That's right.

  • I'm a producer.

  • [CHUCKLES]

  • No!

  • I feel like someone needs to wake me up.

  • No.

  • I just want to meet you and say, I think you're so amazing.

  • You're a first grade teacher at Emerson Elementary,

  • and you're doing so many beautiful things.

  • Tell us about your school, please.

  • I'm sorry, I'm just starting to catch my breath.

  • This is such an honor, oh my God.

  • I'm sorry.

  • That's all right.

  • Oh my God.

  • It was a surprise.

  • Oh my God, I'm--

  • I'm sorry.

  • [CHUCKLING]

  • OK, [INAUDIBLE].

  • I'm sorry.

  • Oh my God.

  • Mom, you should see this.

  • Oh my God.

  • [CHUCKLING]

  • OK.

  • [DEEP BREATH]

  • OK.

  • I'm sorry, yes.

  • No, it's fine.

  • We surprised you, so of course.

  • You didn't expect to see me.

  • So your school is Emerson Elementary.

  • And what you're doing during the quarantine

  • to help these students is amazing.

  • First of all, they count on the school for lunch, right?

  • Yes.

  • Yes.

  • It is-- I teach first grade at Emerson Elementary in North

  • Oakland, and yeah, it's a title I school,

  • so over 75% of our kids get free and reduced lunch,

  • and a lot of them come from very highly-impacted communities

  • and tough areas where even I'm scared to walk sometimes.

  • But then it's like, when I think of them,

  • and just the community there, I love them.

  • I've chosen this place.

  • They chose me, and I think it's definitely destiny for me here.

  • I love it.

  • Yeah.

  • Well, they're so lucky to have you.

  • And why did you want to read to them during this time?

  • Because this has really taken off.

  • It's very popular now, what you're doing.

  • I'm shocked.

  • To just even be here with such an amazing person right now,

  • it just shows how much impact it's had.

  • But I chose to read because I wanted to connect to my kids.

  • I wanted to connect with them, and just have that continuity.

  • Like, what do we do?

  • How do I connect with them?

  • And so reading books has been amazing.

  • And so that's how I started doing storytime

  • with Mr. Limata.

  • It's funny, because Mr. Limata has always been my dad, but--

  • no, yeah, so I started doing that,

  • and yeah, it's taken on a life of its own.

  • But you started-- you were helping students long

  • before the quarantine.

  • You're always paying out of pocket.

  • You do so much for them, right?

  • And you're the soccer coach.

  • And I know you buy all the equipment yourself

  • because the school can't afford it.

  • You pick them up.

  • You drive them to games.

  • What is it about-- why do these students mean so much to you?

  • You know, it's what they bring to me, what they represent.

  • Being with them in the classroom has just been amazing.

  • You see their small faces, everything that they bring.

  • They just make me smile, they make me feel good.

  • And then when I think about it in this time,

  • during this shelter in place, they just bring so much joy.

  • They remain resilient.

  • They're always caring for each other.

  • They're always joking with me, just making me feel good.

  • And so every time I think about them,

  • it's like, that is what I want, and they make me feel good.

  • And so it's just-- being around them is the best feeling ever.

  • Well, I know, as you said, it's title I school.

  • The school needs a lot.

  • It needs books.

  • It needs sports equipment, technology,

  • and we want to help.

  • I am partnering with Box Tops for Education

  • to celebrate incredible teachers like you,

  • and they want to give Emerson Elementary school $25,000.

  • Oh my God.

  • Oh my God, thank you so much.

  • Oh.

  • So now you don't have to go out of pocket yourself to do this.

  • This is for the school.

  • And I want to talk to you more about you when we come back.

  • We'll take a break.

  • We'll be right back.

  • All right.

  • Thank you.

  • Oh my God.

  • We're back with a wonderful teacher named Peter Limata.

  • Before the break, we learned what

  • an incredible teacher and what an incredible person you are.

  • There's something else that you want to share.

  • Here's what's amazing about you.

  • You're originally from Zambia, Africa.

  • And not only are you doing this for your students

  • and your school, but you're also supporting your family

  • back home.

  • You're sending money to them.

  • Yes.

  • Yes.

  • I'm from Zambia.

  • I moved to the US in July of 2011.

  • And yes, the time has flown by.

  • But yeah, just being able--

  • it's been a blessing, really, because I've

  • been able to send money to my dad for rent,

  • and also just his upkeep, necessities.

  • And then also my nieces and nephews every now and then,

  • they'll need money for school, tuition.

  • I have a niece on my dad's side who's in college now,

  • and so she will ask for tuition fees, exam fees,

  • and I'm able to do that.

  • So that has been really--

  • it feels good.

  • I'm glad that I somehow ended up in this position

  • that I can be able to share the love with my family for sure.

  • Well, yeah.

  • Most people in your position would not really

  • be doing as much as you're doing for both

  • your family and those students.

  • You're an incredible person, so I want to tell you,

  • not only does Box Tops for Education

  • want to give your school $25,000,

  • they want to give you $25,000.

  • Oh, no!

  • Oh!

  • Oh!

  • Yes.

  • [CHUCKLING]

  • Thank you so much.

  • Oh my God, oh.

  • Oh, I don't know what to--

  • oh!

  • Oh!

  • Thank you.

  • You're amazing.

  • Oh, no, thank you so much.

  • Oh my God.