Hillsborough High teacher surprised when Valrico man “pays it forward”

A great example of Americans coming together to help each other out where it counts. This fitness trainer and business owner felt God speak to him, and interpreted that he needed to help a teacher. So When he saw a lady with a cart overflowing with school supplies, he told her that he would pick up the tab. Just a completely random act of kindness yo, and that is just pure awesomeness.

BRANDON – On Aug. 4, in the middle of Staples at Regency Square, Rodney Burton heard God speak to him.

“He said, ‘There’s someone here you need to do something for,’” said Burton. “I felt like He was talking about a teacher.”

“It’s a respect thing. They give so much, every day,” he said. “They should be the highest-paid people out there. They inspire kids, transform parents and change lives for good, never knowing the impact one conversation might have. Why not give back to the people who give so much?”

When Burton and his wife, Audra, got in line at the register, “this lady in front of me had so much stuff in her basket; I thought she’s got to be a teacher.”

The woman was Brandon-resident Sharon Leto, a science teacher for Hillsborough High School’s International Baccalaureate program.

“The most wonderful thing happened,” she said. “While I waited in line, the man behind me asked if I was a school teacher. When I said yes, he said, ‘Today is your lucky day! I’m going to pay for everything in your cart.’
“My cart was full, but he didn’t seem to care,” said Leto. “He said, ‘We don’t do enough for our teachers,’ and he just wanted to pay it forward. …I was speechless and moved to tears, right there in the checkout line.”

As a reminder, you do not have to spend money to pay it forward. This is a philosophy that can be fulfilled and lighten up anybody's day by doing something as simple as opening a door or holding an elevator. Help someone carry something if they are struggling with full hands. Even just smiling and greeting a random passersby. As long as you individually emit positive energy, positive energy will flow and spread.

reply to post by DYepes


Thanks for sharing this. All too often, especially on ATS, we focus on what's wrong with the world and fail to see a lot of what's right.

"Pay it forward" is awesome, and this "Valrico man" really, really gets it.