We tend to think of test day as something that stresses out students, but teachers carry just as much weight on those days — if not more. Middle school teacher Sarah Ashley Winans knows this better than anyone.
Winans recently blew up on TikTok (@misswinans_teach) after posting a video of herself walking into her school in the dead of night, fully dressed in pajamas and a bonnet. This wasn’t some strange sleepwalking incident — she had jolted awake and realized she’d forgotten to plug in the computer charging cart her students would need for their exam the next day.
The good news? Crisis averted, and pretty quickly at that. The clip shows her jumping out of her car, unlocking the school, heading down the hallway and into her classroom, and within seconds she’s back in front of the security camera flashing a relaxed peace sign. All good.
@misswinans_teach Test taking anxiety isn’t just for the kids. Mind you…this was at 10:15 p.m. 🫠🫠 #itsfineimfineeverythingsfine #viralvideo #teachersoftiktok #teachertok #middleschoolteacher #teacherlife #teacherhumor #middleschool #fyp #trending #sendhelp #whyamilikethis
♬ This Is The Life Demo Hannah Montana – out of context hannah montana
Her caption said it all: “Test anxiety isn’t just for kids.”
Speaking with Today (today.com), Winans explained that her anxiety comes straight from her concern for her students:
“I don’t really sleep the week of testing, because I want them to be OK, and I want them to feel confident, not to be nervous and worried. I know testing can really put a lot of pressure on people.” — Sarah Ashley Winans, via Today
The comments section on her TikTok was full of people who completely related to her situation.
“I just know you were stress texting your principal,” one viewer wrote. Another chimed in, “Yall know she was on the phone with someone bc she was scared to death.”
As it turns out, Winans did call her administrator before making the late-night trip — her school was only about five minutes from her home. That call is also how she got her hands on the security footage. “She let me look at it, and then I said, ‘I have to record it,'” she told Today.
Others skipped the anxiety entirely and just showered her with appreciation.
“This is so Janine coded,” one person wrote, drawing a comparison to Quinta Brunson‘s beloved character from Abbott Elementary (ABC).
“Not all heroes wear capes, they’re in bonnets plugging in the chromebook cart at 10pm,” another joked.
One more comment read, “Just so you know, you’re an amazing teacher because WHO would go late at night when you’re already in your jammies? You’re awesome.”
After the video took off, Winans told Today (today.com) she hopes it gives people a more real, honest picture of what teachers are like — that they’re not perfect, they forget things, they lose sleep, and they show up anyway:
“This is just something we do. Teachers, you make mistakes, and you forget to do things and, I mean, you just do what you have to do to make sure your kids are successful. And I was just doing my job.” — Sarah Ashley Winans, via Today
So on top of educating, supporting, and guiding students every single day, teachers are apparently also out here running midnight supply missions. That alone is reason enough — reason #509, at least — why they deserve so much more.
As a new school year gets going, Winans looks to be in great spirits, sharing videos of her classroom makeover and a fun outfit check on her TikTok (@misswinans_teach).
@misswinans_teach A little ootd to get the week started😂😂 #teachersoftiktok #viralvideo #teachertok #middleschoolteacher #ootd
She looks like she’s finally getting some sleep — and she’s earned every bit of it.
This article is based on original reporting and interviews conducted by Today (NBC News), which can be accessed at today.com. All direct quotes from Sarah Ashley Winans are drawn from that interview. The story was originally published by Upworthy at upworthy.com. Video content referenced in this piece was posted by Winans on her TikTok account, @misswinans_teach. The Abbott Elementary reference relates to the ABC sitcom created by Quinta Brunson.
