What happens when a teacher becomes the student?
At Tinora, we are about to find out.
Mr. Woolace is taking on The Ultimate 13 Day Challenge: Kindergarten to Cap & Gown, a 13-day journey through every grade level from Kindergarten all the way to senior year. Each day, he will step into a classroom not as the teacher, but as the student.
This challenge is especially meaningful because this is Mr. Woolace’s final year at Tinora. After nearly three decades in the classroom, he will be retiring at the end of the school year.
“This is going to be my last year of teaching. I will be retiring at the end of the year and this is going to be a great way to go out,” Mr. Woolace said.
He added with a smile, “I've been teaching at Tinora for I believe 29 years… somewhere in there.”
From learning his ABCs and lining up for recess to tackling upper-level assignments and navigating senior-level expectations, Mr. Woolace will experience school from an entirely new perspective. And yes, he already has his eye on one particular goal:
“If I’m not the dodgeball champion, I’m going to be furious.”
Raising Funds for the Future
While this challenge promises plenty of laughs, it also serves a very important purpose. This initiative supports the Northeastern Local Schools Donor Advised Endowment Fund, which strengthens opportunities for students now and for generations to come.
Community members can get involved in a big way:
$200 donation – Earn a spin on the Wheel of Consequences and receive a verbal shout-out during the video.
$500 donation – Choose the consequence from the wheel and receive a verbal shout-out during the video.
All donors – Regardless of donation amount, your name will be listed at the end of the video as a thank-you for supporting Tinora students.
Every donation makes a difference. Whether it’s $5 or $500, each contribution helps grow the endowment fund and invest in the future of Tinora students.
Meet the Woolace Wildcard Wheel
Free Space
Tiny Chair: No matter what class he’s in, Mr. Woolace must sit at a tiny desk and chair.
Tire Swing Spin: Students swing him around 10 times on a tire swing.
Pie in the Face: Sweet, messy, and unforgettable.
Dino Day: Wear a blowup dinosaur costume for the entire day.
Taylor Swift Lunchtime: Sing Taylor Swift songs in front of the students during lunch.
Banana Traffic Director: Dress up in a banana suit and help direct traffic at dismissal.
Mystery Box: Put his hand in a mystery box filled with… something mysterious.
Kiss a Goat: Yes, this really happens.
Paint with the Preschool: Unleash the inner artist (and the mess!).
Every spin is unpredictable and every donation helps invest in the future of Tinora students.
Follow the Journey
Throughout the 13 days, we’ll be filming Mr. Woolace in classrooms and sharing video updates, photos, and donor recognition as he works his way from crayons to cap and gown.
Will he survive nap time? Can he handle pop quizzes? Will he earn that dodgeball title?
There’s only one way to find out.
To support the challenge, visit:
https://shorturl.at/yKNQf
Be sure to select “Northeastern Local Schools Donor Advised Endowment Fund.”
Let the learning and the consequences begin!