Principal wrote letters to each of the 443 graduating seniors — with a powerful message behind why he did it

When the Class of 2025 at Mansfield Summit High School in Arlington, Texas, walked across the graduation stage, each student received more than just a diploma. In a gesture that moved students, teachers, and even national audiences, Principal Jason Mutterer, known affectionately as "Coach Mutt," handwrote a letter to every one of the school's 443 seniors. Mutterer explained why he devoted weeks of his personal time to the task.

"I wanted them to be able to pull that out and be reminded there's something very special inside of them," he said. Inside each envelope, along with the note, he tucked a single dollar bill, meant as a reminder of how one small act of kindness can ripple outward. Mutterer, a former basketball coach who has served at Summit since it opened over two decades ago, said the inspiration came from his own past. As a teenager, a government teacher once handed him a letter with the message that he was capable of college and more. "I was supposed to be a fourth- or fifth-generation farmer. Somebody saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself," he told Today. He still has that note today.

For this class, he returned the favor 443 times over. "They’re my students. It’s personal," he said. At the graduation ceremony, Mutterer turned his back to the audience to address the students directly. As he called out names and handed out diplomas, he included the letters as well. Each letter contained personal references — inside jokes, nicknames, and words of encouragement that only someone who paid close attention over the years could recall. Studies say this kind of attention can have a positive impact on the student's overall performance. "Most principals don’t go out of their way to go to students’ events. He is always there," graduate Andrea Lozada said. Fellow graduate Eduardo Estrada added, "He made every one of us feel seen and loved. Hopefully, we get to pass it on one day and make other people feel important and appreciated."

Daniel Ezenagu, who received a note addressed to "Dan the Man," said, "I don’t even know how he does it — he’s like a magician. Athletes, bands, regular students... whatever you do, he knew about it." That impact was clear when the senior class, hundreds of teenagers on summer break, woke up early to cheer for Mutterer as he appeared live in Rockefeller Plaza. In turn, Today surprised him with handwritten notes from audience members moved by his story. One mom of three wrote, "The simple act of writing letters to your seniors is transforming. More educators like you are needed in this world."

When asked what students might do with the dollar bill — spend it or save it — Mutterer simply said, "That’s up to them. If they keep it as a reminder that somebody loves them when they’re older, that’s fine. If they pass it on, even better." What began as a private act of kindness has already inspired others. Educators across the country have reached out, saying they’re planning to do something similar in their own schools. But for Mutterer, the point was never about attention but about showing his students that they mattered. "I want them to know that we love them and that they are always welcome back to Summit High School. In our society, we need to see kids and pour into them, because they’re going to pass that on to the next generation," he said.