Hometown Hero: Community High School's Ray Bethea featured on 'Good Morning America'

Ray Bethea is “invaluable” to Community High School, according to Principal Cathy Haughney.

Bethea, the Swannanoa school’s head custodian, was recently featured on “Good Morning America’s” “Ray of Sunshine” segment that celebrates “hometown heroes.”

The segment that aired Jan. 11 follows Bethea as he is surprised by “Good Morning America’s” Ike Ejiochi, who leads Bethea into Community High School’s gym where students, faculty and staff and Bethea’s family await.

A clip is shown of students at the school describing what kind of positive impact Bethea has on them. Filming for this segment took place Dec. 14, according to Haughney.

Haughney told Black Mountain News that Bethea was the first person she met when she came to Community High School.

“I could tell immediately that his heart was here, that his passion was here, that he knew every kid and every staff member in this building,” Haughney said. “He observes them, got to know them, build solid relationships with them. He’s the go-to. He knows everything about everybody in this building, and that makes him invaluable for us.”

She said Bethea is always willing to help anybody, regardless of whether or not they are in the school.

“I don’t think he ever knew the impact of those quick check-ins or that shared hug or smile that he has on the students in the building,” Haughney said.

Haughney said the journey to “Good Morning America” started when she wrote a short feature of Bethea on the school’s Facebook page. She said the story was then picked up by the Buncombe County Schools Communications Department and then by Spectrum News. Haughney said one day she received a call from ABC, which she said she originally thought was a scam. The call was real, and “Good Morning America” came to Swannanoa to do a full day of filming while Haughney sent Bethea to another school.

For his part, Bethea told Black Mountain News he though something was amiss. He said when he saw his wife getting ready the morning of the live segment, he was suspicious.

He described the moment he walked into the gym to see everyone “exciting.”

“It was really awesome,” Bethea said. “I was touched by it because I never looked for anybody to pat me on the back.”

As part of his “Good Morning America” surprise, the show gifted Bethea a two-night trip to Las Vegas, where he will see Lionel Richie perform. Bethea said he is “excited” for the trip he has planned for June.

Bethea said he struggled during his high school years with finishing school. He said he didn’t feel like he could lean on anyone during that time in his life, and he told himself that he had to finish school, and so he did. Bethea said he wants to help students now do the same thing.

He said he struggled with negativity in his younger years, but found religion in 1988 and decided he wanted to help encourage others.

“Everybody needs to be encouraged,” Bethea said. “You think of a lion as he’s supposed to be the king of the jungle, but even he has to find his strength somewhere. I don’t feel like I have all the strength, but I believe God has allowed me to have enough to share with somebody else.”

Bethea said he will talk to and try to encourage anyone who needs it, but he never pushes. He said he has a regular lineup of students he talks to everyday and he will add in more students along they way if needed.

He has been at Community High School for a decade and said he has only missed one graduation ceremony his entire tenure at the school. Bethea said it is important for students to see him and know he cares.

Bethea said there is “nothing better than being able to encourage somebody,” and he wants to continue helping.

“I’ll just give them a boost,” Bethea said. “You can let a bird fly in your head, but you don’t have to let them build a nest in there and stay.”

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Karrigan Monk is the Swannanoa Valley communities reporter for Black Mountain News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kmonk@blackmountainnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 'Good Morning America' features Community High School's Ray Bethea