Alabama teacher braved freezing bus rides just to get to school — until a kind parent changed her life overnight

For years, a dedicated teacher in Alabama had been taking multiple buses to get to and from school each day — rain or shine, hot or cold, she made the long commute without complaint. However, when one of her students’ parents found out, she decided to do something about it. Courtney Adeleye, founder and CEO of the multimillion-dollar hair care company The Mane Choice, learned about the teacher’s daily struggle through her husband, as per the Daily Mail. He told her that the woman who had been teaching their daughters for several years had to rely on public buses to get to work, to which she responded, "Say no more."

The couple decided to surprise the teacher with a brand-new car. Adeleye and her husband, a physician, bought a white 2018 Ford Focus and had it delivered to the school, complete with a giant blue ribbon. Their 11-year-old son filmed the moment Adeleye brought the teacher outside to reveal the gift. The video captured the teacher’s shock and disbelief. "Are you serious? You’re really serious? Oh my gosh!" she said, tearing up as she hugged Adeleye and her husband, "I cannot believe this! Y’all just don’t know."

Adeleye reassured her, saying, "We don’t want you to have to catch the bus." The teacher, overwhelmed with emotion, later shared how much the gift meant to her. "No more sitting in the cold, no more riding the bus, no more waiting on somebody to come and pick me up," she said in a post shared by Adeleye on her Instagram page @courtneyadeleye. Adeleye added proudly, "She said it felt good driving to school! And for those who asked… no, she doesn’t have a car payment." It was such a meaningful gift considering how many teachers, even with full-time jobs, often struggle to afford reliable transportation and housing.

A 2025 report from the National Council on Teacher Quality found that while housing costs rose by nearly 50% between 2019 and 2025, teacher salaries grew by only 24%. In almost half of the large districts studied, a starting teacher’s pay was not enough to cover rent for a one-bedroom apartment without crossing into what housing experts call "unaffordable." For some educators, that meant more than 40% of their paycheck went straight to rent.

For Adeleye, helping others has always been part of her definition of success. "When you ask me to define success, this is my response. Give to those without expectations. All glory to God," she wrote. She also noted that the teacher had never owned a new car before, calling her "legit the sweetest person you would ever want to meet." This act of generosity wasn’t the first time Adeleye had changed someone’s life. Known as a beauty entrepreneur with a giving heart, she had already built a reputation for helping strangers. Through her "Pay It Forward" campaign, she launched a program called "Pay My Bill," where she covered expenses for one of her social media followers each week.

The post touched a lot of viewers, who praised Adeleye for such a heartfelt gesture. @resgulmar said, "Attitudes like this always show me that human beings still have so much goodness to show!" @mwoolsey58 added, "Teachers are the best, and give so much! This is so great! Thank you for your kindness and generosity to a truly deserving person." @totallysamsays commented, "You are what the world needs! You are a blessing and a role model to us all."

You can follow Courtney Adeleye (@courtneyadeleye) on Instagram for more daily life content.

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