McKee Elementary Receives Valentine’s from Taylor Swift, Still Awaits One from Rhode Island
The mysterious package arrived at McKee Elementary School in Jeannette on Wednesday.
The return address was Nashville.
It contained a 7-foot-tall cardboard cutout of musician Taylor Swift.
A Hallmark card inside was addressed to a student with the same first name. One more thing — a red scrawl in the “from” line of the card looked suspiciously like Swift’s signature.
Fourth grade teacher Gina Greer skipped her lunch break that day and instead spent her time trying to figure out if Swift was the true sender and signer.
“Me and another teacher researched it and I didn’t see any flaws,” she said. “I’m hoping (it’s real), but even if it’s not, the look on the kids’ faces is priceless.”
A spokesperson for Swift did not return a message Friday. It was unclear if Swift was involved in the package.
In January, Greer put out a call on social media seeking Valentines from all 50 states as part of a lesson on the states and their capitals. She teaches reading and social studies and is sharing the spoils of the project with fellow teacher Pat Florey.
It’s exploded — Valentines started pouring in by late January and, on Friday, a maintenance worker brought all of the mail to the classroom on a dolly. They’ve gotten hundreds of Valentines.
“I lost count at like 350,” she said.
The popularity of it has been a shock to Greer who said the students open a little stack each day. They’ve gotten store-bought and handmade cards and even gift cards, which Greer said she planned to use to purchase Valentine’s Day treats for the students.
“It’s just amazing how many good people are out there,” she said.
But the best part has been the students’ reactions.
“This small little project turned into something so big,” she said.
The classroom has received Valentines from all of the states but one — Rhode Island.
“We’re so close,” Greer said.
Valentines from Rhode Island can be sent to Greer’s classroom at McKee Elementary School at 1000 Lowry Ave., Jeannette, Pa. 15644.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.