Buffalo, New York – A Buffalo Academy of Science principal received a heartwarming surprise just days before her wedding: a mock ceremony orchestrated by her students and staff.
Brianna Lanoye, principal of the K-12 charter school, and her fiancé zach Klapp were honored with a student-led wedding party in the school courtyard earlier this month. The gesture stemmed from Lanoye’s repeated expression of wanting to invite her entire school community to her nuptials. This act of affection highlights the strong bond between educators and students, and the lengths a school community will go to show gratitude for a beloved leader.
The staff secretly prepared for the event, even crafting a makeshift wedding dress for Lanoye. when she emerged from the school building, she was greeted by over 400 students and staff. Klapp joined her, and the couple exchanged vows and candy ring pops, presided over by a student officiant.
“When I exited the building and saw all the students gathered there, I was blown away,” Lanoye said.
While no objections were raised during the ceremony, some students playfully suggested to CBS News that Klapp might not be Lanoye’s only love. Student Sabahat Uddin quipped, “She loves the kids more than her husband.”
Lanoye responded with laughter when asked about the playful accusations, stating the ceremony was everything she could have hoped for. “I love my students more than anything,” Lanoye said. “And I just hope that our students feel as loved as I felt in that moment.”
