How Weymouth surprised Ken Abbott with a 'Good Morning America' special appearance

WEYMOUTH − Principal Nancy Schuhwerk knew this final week at Nash Elementary School would be extra busy with fifth-grade graduation, class events, awards and registration for next year's kindergarten.

Then the phone call came, totally unexpected, two weeks ago that raised the stakes even higher.

ABC's "Good Morning America" wanted to come to the Nash School for a Father's Day special. Ken Abbott, one of the school system's most beloved teachers, was headed for the surprise spotlight of national television.

A retired music and special education teacher, Abbott taught for more than 20 years in Weymouth and has extra skills in reading and math. Since September, he has been volunteering at the school two days a week in his daughter Melissa Staffier's kindergarten class.

And so, after the phone call from GMA, a whirlwind of preparations began. Schuhwerk and school staff all chipped in to help set the stage. Phone calls went out across town − to former colleague Marguerite O'Hearn, former teachers and students and community and church groups.

GMA arrives in Weymouth early

Soon the "Good Morning America" advance teams were at the door.

At 1 p.m. Thursday, crews from New York arrived to set up equipment in the gymnasium. They had 24-hour security. Just after 8:31 Friday morning, "Good Morning America" went live from the Nash School gymnasium. And even last week, interviews began.

An unsuspecting Abbott, who had just been called to the gym over the school's PA system, calmly walked down the first-floor corridor, through the gym doors and onto the stage of American network TV.

Inside the gym, more than 100 people, including dozens of Abbott's former students, were waiting. They had happily arrived early to be sure he wouldn't see them when he came in at 8:31 a.m.

"By spreading his good cheer, Ken is such a great role model for other community members, not just the school," Schuhwerk said beforehand.

A Good Age: A special dad steps up to help his daughter teach kindergarten in Weymouth

Why does Ken Abbott think he's coming to school Friday? Peter Rabbit, of course

The soft-spoken grandfather thought he was coming into the Nash School on Friday to do a special repeat performance of his Peter Rabbit song story with music he plays on his electric keyboard. He has been practicing at home.

This spring, "Good Morning America" had seen a Patriot Ledger article from April about the heartwarming and unusual father-daughter teaching team. The newspaper learned about them after Staffier wrote a tribute to her father for the school.

Last September, in her fourth year of teaching, Staffier faced her largest, most diverse classroom with a wide range of student abilities. She was concerned about being able to reach each child on their own level and prepare them all for first grade. Abbott, retired for 11 years, said, "Why don't I come in twice a week and help you out?"

On Mondays and Wednesdays, he has been driving up from Hanson to do just that.

What it is like for Nash Elementary School to get ready for 'Good Morning America'

Working with network TV crews to bring this local story to America has been exciting for Schuhwerk.

"I've learned a lot," she said and detailed just what went into the advance work..

First, ABC sent the school a large white poster board and asked the students and teachers to decorate it by coloring in a drawing. "Good Morning America" also sent signs reading "Number One Dad" "Happy Father's Day" and "We (heart) Mr. Abbott."

Technicians arrived to check the school's WiFi speed, the lighting in different areas and the entrances as they would be used on live TV − and the parking. Located off Route 18 behind the Stetson Building, the school has several parking areas, and Friday, visitors were all directed to a large field in back so Abbott would not see the crowd as he drove in.

Last week and this week, interviewers who work with "Good Morning America" arrived to talk to Abbott's former teaching colleagues and former students. Weymouth School Superintendent Robert Wargo and Elizabeth Harris and Alyssa Haggerty from the school's community relations office were involved.

"We want to maintain the purpose of the celebration of Ken, a teacher, community member, friends and an amazing Dad," Schuhwerk said. "Some people haven't seen Ken in 25 years."

Shuhwerk has had a very personal perspective. Her son, Andrew, 22, was a special education student who had Abbott as a teacher and just graduated from Alfred University in New York with a degree in environmental science. When he went off to college, he wrote a letter thanking Abbott for helping him achieve that goal.

It isn't just a school event - South Shore Hospital and Old South Union Church are helping out

For the TV audience inside the school, Schuhwerk invited people from community groups for which Abbott has volunteered, including South Shore Hospital, where he is an escort; and Old South Union Church, where he is a deacon. There was to be a light buffet after the program ended.

Thirteen maroon polo shirts with the logo "Ken Abbott Appreciation Day June 16, 2023" were ordered as gifts for Abbott's family members for Father's Day on Sunday.

On Monday, the TV crew filmed interviews with former students, family members and colleagues, including former School Superintendent Jennifer Curtis Whipple, who had Abbott as a teacher and then became a colleague.

Abbott's grandchildren were asked to share their favorite "Papa moment."

Schools cleans, paints and prepares for the big GMA spot

The maintenance crew quickly got to work cutting the lawns and sprucing up the grounds.

Maintenance staff also was busy inside. The gym ropes had to be moved higher so they wouldn't obstruct views from TV cameras.

"Every nook and cranny was cleaned," Schuhwerk said.

She repainted the podium a shiny black, and second-grade teacher Adriana DelRosso arranged to bring in a big bouquet of flowers from her own garden to add a personal touch for the buffet.

Betsy Harris, director of community relations, collected photographs for a slide show of Abbott's Weymouth school years.

"You are representing not just your school, but your town," Schuhwerk said of the effort. "It has been so positive. All the people coming in were careful not to disrupt the activities we had and were so kind. In their interviews, they knew how to make the people feel comfortable."

How wife Ginny Abbott was in on it

Abbott's wife and Staffier's mother, Ginny Abbott, is also a retired teacher. She taught fifth grade and computer education in the Braintree schools for 26 years. She has been busy retrieving letters that former students and colleagues had written to Abbott over the years. (And she has been keeping him busy with errands all week so that she can make phone calls in the final days of prep for this surprise. That includes calls with this reporter.)

Ken Abbott graduated from Braintree High School in 1971 and in 1975 from Boston University, where he studied music education. He quickly landed a teaching job in Weymouth and taught music at five primary schools, traveling from one to the other, for 10 years. He saw youngsters in a variety of learning situations and felt drawn to special education.

After obtaining a master's degree in special education at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, he remained in Weymouth for the rest of his 36-year education career, teaching reading and special education.

In 2011, he took an early-retirement incentive and has been busy since volunteering and sharing positivity − most recently on national TV.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: GMA surprises Weymouth teacher at Nash Elementary: How they did it