Dallas ISD teacher surprised with $10,000 on The Jennifer Hudson Show

DALLAS - A Dallas ISD teacher got a big surprise on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday.

24-year-old Marcus Bornslatter teaches fourth graders at Joe May Elementary School in Dallas.

He now makes sure each student has a safe space by going above and beyond to provide snacks, hygiene products and more in his classroom.

"A lot of kids that are fatherless, or they don't have a male figure around, so I was like, maybe if I'm in there I can be like a father or a big brother to these kids," Bornslatter said on the show.

He said when he first started at the school, kids questioned if he would stick around because previous teachers hadn't.

"Every week they were like, am I going to see you on Monday? I was like, you're going to see me every Monday for the rest of the school year," Bornslatter said.

His goal was to increase confidence in his students and get rid of negative self-talk.

Bornslatter says he's seen a great deal of progress.

"They are constantly growing and giving it their all," he said.

Then he got a big surprise.

A video message from his students and a bit of support.

"We want you to keep that great work going, so we're giving you $10,000!" Hudson exclaimed.

In the past, Bornslatter funded the supplies for his students out of his own pocket along with an online wishlist.

Now, he has $10,000 to help with those supplies.

You can watch The Jennifer Hudson Show weekdays at 1 p.m.