News Summary
Cherilyn Guy, a Las Vegas high school teacher, promotes kindness through small acts and community engagement. Her initiatives have gained attention, leading to support from notable brands. Amidst adversity, her message of positivity encourages students to embrace generosity and compassion. As the community faces challenges, including traffic safety and issues of cultural representation, Guy’s efforts shine as a beacon of hope.
Las Vegas – Cherilyn Guy, an English teacher at a Las Vegas high school, has carved a niche for herself as a “kindness influencer,” using her platform to inspire her students and the community to engage in small acts of kindness. Her efforts come at a time when many in the Las Vegas community are grappling with grief and adversity, making her message of positivity especially significant.
Guy first gained nationwide attention two years ago when a TikTok video of her emotional reaction to her students’ modest Christmas wishes went viral. In her video, she highlighted the simplicity of her students’ requests, which included items such as Takis, M&Ms, and glasses. This emotional connection struck a chord with viewers, sparking an outpouring of donations from across the globe, allowing her to fulfill these wishes through her “Wishmas” project. Her influence has continued to grow since that moment, with her TikTok accounts amassing 163,000 and 15,000 followers on her main and secondary accounts, respectively.
In her classroom, Guy promotes a culture of kindness by encouraging students to perform one small act of kindness each day. To foster this environment, she engages her students in personalized activities, such as filling out index cards that detail individual interests and birthdays. Each week, she prepares customized goody bags for students celebrating their birthdays, further solidifying the spirit of gratitude and kindness within her classroom.
The community response to Guy’s initiatives has been overwhelmingly positive. Recently, Sour Punch recognized her kindness project, sending a significant shipment of candy to support her efforts in creating goody bags, highlighting how businesses are increasingly supporting local kindness initiatives. Additionally, well-known brands like Dearfoams and Crayola have partnered with Guy, providing gifts and classroom supplies to enhance her projects.
Amidst these heartwarming stories of community support, Las Vegas has also faced significant challenges. The city has recently dealt with issues related to cultural representation and student identity. This has led to lawsuits against the Clark County School District, particularly regarding restrictions on graduation attire that some believe infringe upon students’ freedom of expression, as advocated by the ACLU.
Furthermore, traffic safety has become a pressing issue in the Las Vegas area, particularly following several tragic incidents involving students being struck by vehicles close to schools. This has prompted local authorities, including the Brawley Police Department, to launch educational campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of new pedestrian safety laws and promoting safer environments for students traveling to and from school.
In tribute to a tragic loss, Arbor View High School plans to honor McKenzie Scott, a student who recently passed away, at the upcoming graduation ceremony. This event serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of community support during times of grief.
As Cherilyn Guy continues her mission to spread kindness amidst the challenges her students and community face, her work stands as a beacon of hope, encouraging others to find joy and purpose through small acts of generosity and compassion.
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Additional Resources
- Las Vegas Sun: Teacher’s Emotional Plea for Spreading Kindness
- AOL: Best Private High Schools in Las Vegas
- Fox5 Vegas: ACLU Suing CCSD Over Graduation Attire Restrictions
- KTNV: New High School Proposal for Southwest Valley
- 8 News Now: High School Honors Las Vegas Teen Shot and Killed
- Wikipedia: Kindness
- Google Search: Las Vegas high school news
- Google Scholar: Kindness in Education
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School
- Google News: Las Vegas Education
