MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — In the early hours of the morning, most people are dreading their drive to work. For Meagan Lester, it can't come soon enough.
"It is 8:01, so four more minutes," said Lester, as she waited to begin her day as a Murfreesboro-based school crossing guard.
Because when the school zone lights start flashing and traffic starts to slow down, it's her time to shine.
"Alright, here we go," said Lester, as the clock hit 8:05 and she walked out into the middle of South Rutherford Boulevard.
Lester seems to greet every car with a warm greeting and a big wave. "Good morning darling," Lester yells to one of the many cars filing past Black Fox Elementary School.
"You better put a smile on that face," she yelled to another. Once the driver complied, she replied, "Thank you!"
Occasionally, you'll catch her dancing or strutting up and down the median between waves and traffic motions to cars. "I like to pretend I’m driving, I do little dance moves," she explained.
Meagan also directs traffic at Northfield Elementary, Monday - Friday. She's only been on the job for one full school semester but has already amassed adoring fans.
"A lot of the kids love her, the families love her. She’s a really nice lady," said Michael Hebron, a first-grade teacher at Black Fox who also lives nearby. "I mean I feel like she’s part of the school, she’s definitely representing us well and getting all the kids excited before they even get into the parking lot."
But don't confuse her care as carelessness. "The reason I [dance and wave] is to make sure these drivers are aware I’m here. They’re aware that this is a school area," said Lester.
Thank goodness she is, because drivers may still dread their eventual destination, but they can't help but love the journey when they drive past Meagan.
"As long as you leave my area with a smile, a giggle, even a little smirk, I’m okay. I’m happy with it," she said.
