GARDEN GROVE, Calif. – They say a handshake can tell you a lot about a person, but a middle school teacher named Joe Dawkins is putting his own twist on the old saying.  

Dawkins has been teaching for four years. He started his career at Mitchell Elementary and transferred to Jordan Intermediate School where he teaches eighth graders United States History.

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He begins the start of every lesson by standing outside of his classroom to greet every single one of his eighth graders in a special way. He does this every day.

“I want to be the teacher that I needed when I was a kid. I think sometimes we think so much about the teaching aspect and we forget that they are students and they’re whole human beings outside of the classroom,” says Dawkins.

The history teacher created a board outside of his classroom door which features six different circle cut-outs where students can point to let him know how they want to be greeted that day. Dawkins has cut-outs for a handshake, high five, fist bump, thumbs up, a wave, and an option to just say hello. What is not on the board is an option to do a secret handshake that Dawkins and some of his students have created.

“For me, it’s that moment for them to connect with somebody and say hey, if you need something in the future, if you need something today. I’m here for you. It also gives me a sense of their energy in the morning” says Dawkins.

The teacher says he has made it an effort to be invested in his students’ well-being. So much so, that he can tell if a student is not feeling well because he has interacted with them enough to catch certain cues. Some people might think middle school students are young teenagers who don’t want this kind of interaction with people who are older than them, but his students are proving otherwise.

“I felt kind of surprised because it was something new to this school. It’s pretty cool to walk into the classroom and be greeted by a teacher with a handshake or secret handshake you’ve made up with him,” says Donavan Nguyen, an eighth grade student.

Dawkins, his colleagues on campus and others in the Garden Grove Unified School District are bringing a campaign called “Choose Wellness” to life. The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness of mental health and wellness and equip students, staff, and families with resources that address students’ motivation, socio-emotional well-being, school climate, and culture.

Since the district launched the campaign and put out a call to action for parents, community members, staff, and students to volunteer on a variety of committees like the “Safe and Welcoming Schools Taskforce.” So far, the district has gained 200 volunteers.

On January 30, the district is planning to host the first of five Choose Wellness events hosted by the Board of Education in each trustee’s area. The event will be held at Alamitos Intermediate School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and will include a resource fair and a series of “Wellness Workshops” on topics like managing anxiety, cyberbullying, online safety, building a family wellness plan, healthy relationships, suicide prevention, and more.

“It may be taking time out, but there’s always time. In my opinion, it’s important to work with these kids because you don’t know when or if they’re going to be able to talk to another adult or somebody else with their worries,” says Dawkins.

He hopes his students realize that life is full of moments that will test them. So it is important they remember to be kind to one another, reach out if they need help, and most importantly that they all matter.

To participate in the district’s Choose Wellness Campaign, visit the website here.