Army mother surprises kids at John R. Lewis Elementary

Sgt. Shanterria Rocker was dressed in her army uniform and carried two teddy bears as she walked behind a procession of teachers at John R. Lewis Elementary School Friday morning.

Rocker’s two sons, Jaxon, 6, and Josiah, 7, were eating lunch when they turned around to see their mother coming into the cafeteria. They ran into their mother’s arms and embraced in front of dozens of elementary schoolers.

After a nine-months long deployment in Poland with the Army, Rocker was reunited with her two sons. She said she’s been thinking about this moment every day.

“It was challenging, but now I got my babies,” she said.

Rocker worked in Poland as a supply specialist for the Army. The Westside graduate has been in the Army since 2016. 

She joined JROTC while in high school and always felt an “obligation” to serve, especially with her brother joining the armed forces.

“Everyday is challenging, but I do it everyday and I continue to do it. I ain’t got no more breath in me because these babies are my reason,” she said.

Rocker reached out a month before the end of her deployment and organized the surprise with school administrators.

Principal Adrienne Hurley said it’s important to have a partnership with parents and have a “village” to raise kids. Parents like Rocker are able to have a “peace of mind” when their kids are in school.

Rocker and her reunited sons went home early, the kids’ pizza was left untouched on their lunch trays. She said they might go to the mall and plan on spending Thanksgiving at her aunt’s house.