Florida elementary school principal Matt Dyer doesn't just run the school; he lights it up with laughter. At the beginning of the year, he gives students a reward to look forward to if they accomplish academic goals, usually at his own expense. "I dress up as Buddy the Elf right before our Christmas break, and I pass out candy and syrup to our teachers before they come in," said Dyer.
Matt knew this year's goal had to top years past when students not only met but exceeded a national accelerated reader challenge. So, at the end of May, Matt jumped out of a plane! "My wife was not quite as excited about that skydiving experience," said Dyer.
But "The excitement that you get to see on their faces ... we get to see it every day because we celebrate them coming into school, but seeing them celebrate me or celebrate us when we have accomplishments is awesome to see," said Dyer.