It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! Students erupt at teachers’ news.

When the Artesia High School football and cheerleading teams in Lakewood, California, were called into a joint meeting, none of the students had any idea what was coming.

Gisella Mendoza, the head cheer coach, and Connor Crook, the head football coach, are both teachers at the high school, and they wanted to surprise their students with the news that not only are they dating, but they’re also getting married.

In the now-viral video of the announcement, the couple stands side by side as they break the news to the teams they coach. Within seconds, the room erupts in cheers.

“We were both very surprised,” Mendoza said. “We were a little nervous that they wouldn’t care. It was so sweet how excited they were, and it really made it so special.”

Watch the video above to see the students react to the news their coaches are engaged!

Mendoza and Crook’s love story began long before they worked at the same school. The two first crossed paths in kindergarten, when Crook attended Mendoza’s birthday party. They didn’t officially reconnect until years later — this time as colleagues.

At first, their interactions were brief: a hello in the hallway, small talk about running. All that changed when they spent time together outside school.

“We went for a run and quickly realized how much we had in common and how naturally we connected,” Mendoza said.

The couple is set to marry June 13, 2026, in San Juan Capistrano, California. But thanks to their students, they already have one unforgettable celebration under their belts.

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