WATCH: Raleigh crossing guard happily dances in the rain

Andrea Blanford Image
Friday, September 1, 2017
Raleigh crossing guard happily dances in the rain
When he isn't helping kids safely cross the street, Avery Hairston is dancing.

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- When he isn't helping kids safely cross the street on their way to and from Raleigh's Powell Center for Play and Ingenuity Magnet Elementary School, Avery Hairston is dancing.

The crossing guard doesn't use any music- he doesn't need it.

Mr. Avery, as the students, parents, and school principal call him, creates his own rhythm, mumbling a beatbox type of tune as the 69-year-old retiree shuffles his feet, hops, and moves his hips.

"I've always got to be moving around," he said. "I have to not stand in one position all the time."

Over the last two years, Hairston has become known as the dancing crossing guard at the corner of King Charles Road and Marlborough Road.

"There's not a car that goes by that does not extend a hand and a nice wave and smile to Mr. Avery," said Powell Elementary Principal Curtis Brower.

When Brower spotted Hairston still dancing Friday morning, even in the pouring rain, he decided to take a video of his famous moves and share it on Twitter, using the hashtag #BestCrossingGuardEver.

Brower said Hairston's positive spirit helps his students even after they've reached the classroom.

"Our kids come to school with all things on their mind and him just setting that precedent before they even get on school property that everything's gonna be ok," he said. "We're here for you. We're gonna take care of you. We're all one big happy family. It just makes them successful and ready for the day."

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Hairston said it doesn't make any difference to him what Mother Nature's doing, he'll still keep dancing.

"Only time I'll probably ever be stationary, not moving that much, when I'm letting the kids cross the street," he said.