When Michael Bonner's 2nd grade students were failing their reading tests, he didn't give up on them. He made a music video. In January 2017, Ellen DeGeneres broadcast nationally what Michael Bonner's South Greenville Elementary students already knew--that Bonner was a life-transforming teacher. DeGeneres had been moved by Bonner's efforts to infuse music and pop culture into lessons for his 2nd graders, many who had grown up in poverty and were struggling academically. Along with several corporate sponsors, The Ellen DeGeneres Show provided Bonner's North Carolina school with computers, technical equipment, and financial support. Additionally, DeGeneres flew Bonner's entire 2nd grade class to Los Angeles in 2017, where they recorded a professional music video with artists such as Ice Cube, Ty Dolla Sign, and Lin Manuel Miranda.