Willis Elementary School students sing along with Timmy Abell

The North Carolina musician is traveling to several Manatee County schools this week.

  • By Jessica Salmond
  • | 1:50 p.m. December 1, 2015
  • East County
  • Schools
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Timmy Abell, a musician from North Carolina, reignited a tradition in Manatee County Schools this week.

Abell toured schools in the county for 25 years, but stopped in 2012 for funding reasons. Laurie Rahn, a first-grade teacher at Robert E. Willis Elementary School, helped rekindle the tradition and coordinated his tour this week. Abell and his wife, Susana, played instruments and performed for the school today.

"We love coming down here," Abell said. "It's the response of the students. These schools are wonderful— the kids are always well-behaved and enthusiastic."

Susana and Timmy Abell perform for the kindergarten, first-grade and second-grade classes.
Susana and Timmy Abell perform for the kindergarten, first-grade and second-grade classes.
Jolie Cruze listens intently to the song.
Jolie Cruze listens intently to the song.
JT Wormuth performs along with his classmates.
JT Wormuth performs along with his classmates.
Susana Abell performs a puppet show about a gardener.
Susana Abell performs a puppet show about a gardener.
Rose Lopez and Jason Frisbie, a parent, play along during the performance.
Rose Lopez and Jason Frisbie, a parent, play along during the performance.
Sean Sperol and Kayden West get excited about the Abell performance.
Sean Sperol and Kayden West get excited about the Abell performance.
Logan Danahy goes through the song movements with his classmates.
Logan Danahy goes through the song movements with his classmates.
Sonya Pandya performs the movements to the song.
Sonya Pandya performs the movements to the song.
Laurie Rahn's first-grade class show their fellow schoolmates how to do the movements to the unicorn song.
Laurie Rahn's first-grade class show their fellow schoolmates how to do the movements to the unicorn song.
Valentina Suarez counts the transportation methods during Timmy Abell's travel song.
Valentina Suarez counts the transportation methods during Timmy Abell's travel song.

 

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