Arnold Ford is the assistant principal at Mastery Mann Elementary in West Philadelphia. His Philly LOVE Story is all about promoting positivity and leading with love.

Every day, Ford greets the more than 500 students at Mann with high fives, fist bumps and hugs. These affectionate interactions often go viral on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Ford’s mission is to make his school a welcoming space, somewhere students can feel safe, seen and fully themselves. He encourages his staff to prioritize “teaching the kid” over teaching content. And he measures success at Mann not only through test scores, but also by how students feel each time they walk through the door.