{Photograph} by Stephanie Eley
Jere Chang describes her expertise becoming a member of TikTok as typical: It was fall 2020 and he or she was caught at residence when she downloaded the app on a whim. An Atlanta public college trainer, Chang quickly discovered herself on “TeacherTok” and determined to start out creating her personal classroom-themed movies. Six months later, she had reached 190,000 followers and secured her first model deal. Immediately, she has 3 million followers throughout TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Fb.
Chang does her finest to indicate how a lot enjoyable educating is, however the Sugar Hill, Georgia, native says her mission isn’t to recruit younger lecturers; it’s to be the trainer and the queer illustration she wanted as a baby. Earlier in her profession, Chang obtained a grasp’s diploma in college administration however obtained bored working on the collegiate degree and went again for a grasp’s in educating English to audio system of different languages. She then discovered a job at a neighborhood elementary college that she felt matched her vibe.
“Lots of people assume that queer lecturers are indignant and angsty, but it surely’s fairly the other,” she says. “I’m a enjoyable trainer, at all times celebrating youngsters and being goofy and enjoyable with them. I name myself the lesbian Mr. Rogers as a result of I’m constructive and attempt to be a job mannequin—however I’m additionally homosexual. And people issues can go hand in hand.”
Most of Chang’s content material is lighthearted, humorous skits primarily based on tales from her classroom. She portrays a variety of archetypal scholar characters, utilizing names primarily based on her personal historical past and household. The adults she portrays in her skits are all Clue characters; Chang not too long ago launched Mr. Plum, “an outdated principal who’s out of contact with happenings within the classroom.”
Sometimes, Chang’s spouse and two sons seem in a video or behind the scenes, as within the collection Lunch Prank, wherein Chang’s spouse packs one thing sudden in her Friday lunch. “I do trainer life and mother life,” Chang says.
Across the college the place she teaches, Chang is a little bit of a star: Even the kindergartners consult with her as “the YouTube woman.” Public talking engagements are ramping up as effectively; this yr, she’ll converse to lecturers in Austin and Nashville.
“This has spiraled into so many issues and opened so many alternatives,” Chang says. “The web is a ravishing place. For anybody who desires to get on social media, I inform them to have enjoyable. That’s most necessary.”
Again to 21 Causes We Love Atlanta.
This text seems in our February 2025 problem.
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