Hamilton Resident, Jake Knight, makes memories with his students on the popular social media app
Hamiltonians, there’s a popular TikTok-er living among us.
Jake Knight is a fifth-grade math teacher who can be seen on the social media app most famously dancing to the song “The Chicken Wing Beat.” Many parents of children who watch videos know it as an earworm that stays in their heads after giving it a listen.
Knight emulated the dance created by another popular TikTok user, and his video, which was filmed with his students in the background, jumped to 1 million views in a day.
“In 2019, I told my students if they studied hard and did really well on their math test, I would make a TikTok with them. Honestly, that was motivation enough because they rocked it on their test,” Knight said.
“I grew 100,000 followers within a week. I am now using this opportunity as an incentive, brain breaks, and getting students up and moving, which is so helpful for their brains in a 90-minute math class. I make dancing/acting/funny videos with them sporadically through the school year.” Knight resides at the Marcum Apartments in downtown Hamilton and he teaches in the Lakota school district. He says his students make great memories while filming and watching the videos.
“With over 800,000 followers, I love seeing people who can’t wait for the next video to pop up and see my shining students in the videos,” he said.
Knight has just completed his third year teaching 5th grade and said he had a teacher when he was in the same grade who he remembers fondly. He hopes to have that same impact on his students.
“Mr. Hubbard absolutely loved teaching, and you could tell,” he said. “He made me love education and learning all about math and science, all while building relationships with students. I was beyond engaged in his class and loved how his humor and positive attitude were consistent. I am still looking up to him in how he ran his classroom and hope to be a light for my students, just like he was in my life,” Knight said.
His TikTok popularity has created a new world of friends for Knight as he travels to visit other educators who make videos. He says most of the teachers he works with are hesitant to join in, but they are still supportive of what he does.
“None of my teachers want to be in it … but they do love it when I show them some fun videos of my students dancing and having a blast,” he said.
Outside of teaching and making videos, Knight says he enjoys traveling and is always listening to music. He’s a singer, too.
“I sing at my church Rivers Crossing in Mason on Sundays, and absolutely love it. You’ll also catch me drinking a beverage from Dunkin’ every day… and I’m not exaggerating,” Knight said.
Find Knight on TikTok @jknight5253.