[Weekly Inspiration] Kentucky Educator Turns to TikTok to Teach Compassion

It seems like more and more teachers are finding new and creative ways to connect with their students using TikTok. Brandon Holeman, an eighth grade science teacher in Henerson, Kentucky, is one of these trailblazing educators using the app to not only deliver positive and encouraging videos to his students, but also to his 1.2 million followers.

Like many TikTok users, Holeman told Buzzfeed in a recent article, he only created his account initially to watch videos, not to post them. But when a few students challenged him to see who could get more followers in a weekend, Holeman posted his first video, and quickly amassed almost 50,000 followers. He decided to post more videos, and found himself going viral after he shared a post on why he allowed a student to sleep in class.

Brandon Holeman on TikTok

Brandon Holeman(@bcholeman) has created a short video on TikTok with music original sound. This is for all the teachers and students out there. Life can hit hard, and we all need some grace. #teacher #middleschool #fyp #foryou #studyhacks

Holeman’s posts are quirky, authentic, and touching. He uses his platform to not only share relatable teacher moments, but also to teach important lessons that school assignments don’t always cover, like the importance of remembering that students have lives outside of school, and sometimes need small gestures of kindness and compassion.

“I don’t think of myself as an amazing teacher or one that stands out among the rest,” Holeman told Buzzfeed. “I teach with amazing people and I often times look to them for help. I didn’t really take time to think about it, I just saw the opportunity to help a hurting student and I went for it.”

Holeman went on to say that he hopes his students remember him for the same types of things he remembers about the teachers he had growing up, adding: “Teachers are professionals and we have to teach our content, and do it well. However, when an opportunity presents itself to make a difference in a student's life, we have to take it. We may never know what the little things really mean to a student in the span of their life. Teaching is my job and profession, but investing in students is my calling.”

Check out Brandon Holeman’s TikTok here. Do you know any teachers using TikTok to connect with students? Share their stories with us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!