Coach Walser’s pretty chuffed with his thank you gift (Picture: Coach Walser/Twitter)

Sometimes with kids, it might feel like it all goes in one ear and out the other, but show some faith in them and they might well surprise you – with new trainers.

Thomas Walser is a teacher at Coronado High School, Texas. He’s also an AVID coach, which means he provides intensive support to pupils to help prepare them for college and other opportunities after they leave school.

He’s clearly had a pretty big impact on his students as, last week, one of them surprised him with a very special thank you gift – a pair of Nike Air Jordans he’d wanted since he was 12 years old.



‘It’s good to give back to the man who’s always been by my side,’ student Hector Montez wrote on Twitter, alongside a heartwarming clip of the moment he surprised Coach Walser.


Its good to give back to the man who's always been by my side.?? @CoachWalser pic.twitter.com/W4Sb5tMPim — Hector Montez (@Augustine__09) September 22, 2016

In the clip, which has been retweeted and liked almost 200,000 times, the teacher can be heard saying nervously ‘if something jumps out of this box, I swear to God…’

But, Hector isn’t playing a prank on him. He explains: ‘You told me Sophomore year that this was your favourite shoe and you told me your size, but you don’t even remember it.’

The penny drops and Coach Walser opens up the box to find a fresh new pair of Jordans.

When your kids buy you the shoes you've wanted since you were 12! I love my AVID kids so much! S/O @Augustine__09 pic.twitter.com/yXPHXbhzMI — Thomas Walser (@CoachWalser) September 22, 2016

‘I wanted these since I was in 6th Grade and I never got them,’ the teacher says as he goes to give Hector a big hug. He adds: ‘Man, I’m going to cry’ before immediately putting the new trainers on.

It looks like he’s been wearing them ever since.

Thank you coach walser for being an amazing teacher to everyone, and myself now for almost three years. So glad you finally got your j's?? pic.twitter.com/8whh7ViAMj — Sarah Williams (@sarahhnicoleee) September 24, 2016

A lot of people on Twitter have been touched by the obvious affection the pupils have for Coach Walser and vice versa.

No one can tell coach Walser anything anymore…. His shoes are to clean for lames to speak to him — Aaliyah✨ (@hiiiiaaliyah) September 22, 2016

@Augustine__09 you're an amazing guy and I am so proud of the young man you've become! I can't wait to see what else life hold for you bro — Thomas Walser (@CoachWalser) September 22, 2016

What a humbling experience. — Thomas Walser (@CoachWalser) September 23, 2016

It’s made everyone quite emotional.

Omg that was so Sweet, I'm crying :(

i wish the whole world was this kind. pic.twitter.com/7ot5MpGQBU — TwizléyGold🔮♔ (@TwizleyGold_) September 23, 2016

I'm not crying I just got something in my eye. — adam (@xgears_op) September 22, 2016

It’s even inspiring people to want to get into teaching.

this just confirmed my thoughts of wanting to go into teaching 😭 — subhi taha (@subhitaha_) September 23, 2016

For the chance to be an equally positive influence in young people’s lives, we hope – not just for the free Jordans.

MORE: This teacher’s list of ‘101 ways to cope with stress’ is inspiring more than his students

MORE: A teacher asked her pupils to write down the things they wish she knew and it’s heartbreaking

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