Good Morning America is shining a light on exceptional educators who go the extra mile as classes begin wrapping up for the school year.

On Monday morning, they gave Edward Barlow – a Minneapolis music teacher – an incredible surprise. Over the decades, thousands of students have called him Mr. Barlow, but some like to call him The Music Man.

“He has a marching band that goes around the neighborhood, and they play for the neighborhood,” said one person familiar with Barlow.

Barlow has been teaching music for nearly 40 years, but his impact goes far beyond Anwatin Middle School.

“Everybody always goes to Mr. Barlow for any advice or support that they need. He’s really engrained in Minneapolis Public Schools culture,” said one student.

“He gives me a lot of motivation speeches. He doesn’t give up on anyone,” said another student.

That’s why GMA hand-picked him for a live surprise on national television on Monday.

When asked what keeps him coming back to the classroom despite being able to retire, Barlow kept the reason simple.

“Well, it’s purpose. There’s purpose in meaning in what we do as teachers,” he said.

Cheers rang out from students, staff, and his wife – a fellow teacher – as Barlow was given two checks for $35,000.

“I was totally unprepared; I had no idea. People can keep really good secrets,” he said.

Coworkers think a big chunk of the money may go toward repairing the school’s broken piano.

A plan to boost pay for Uber and Lyft drivers in Minnesota that lawmakers believe would prevent the companies from leaving the market advanced in the state Legislature on Sunday before the midnight deadline.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Anthony Edwards’ postgame comments to Charles Barkley after the Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets to get to the Western Conference Finals set the internet on fire.

During a postgame interview, just minutes after the Wolves’ win, Barkley told Edwards he hadn’t been to Minneapolis in about 20 years. Edwards responded quickly and simply: “Bring ya ass.”

It should be noted that Barkley’s memory is a little flaky… he was in Minneapolis for the NCAA Final Four in 2019.

The utterance set the social media world on fire.

“‘Bring ya ass’ goes down with ‘straight cash, homie’ in the pantheon of MN sports sound bites,” said @johnnyasheville.

Other Wolves fans said the Wolves need to make a “bring ya ass” T-shirt.

In the replies, Food Network star Bobby Flay recommended Spoon and Stable, the James Beard award-winning restaurant on 1st Street North, about a half mile from the Target Center. Other people joined in, sending their own recommendations. Governor Walz suggested The Nook in St. Paul and Matt’s in Minneapolis.

The Wolves first Western Conference Finals game against the Mavericks is set for Wednesday at the Target Center. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.