At King Elementary School, students begin many mornings with a simple but powerful practice. They repeat “I Am” statements that remind them who they are and who they can become.
This year, those daily affirmations took on a new life through music.
What began as an idea to help students connect more deeply with the school’s affirmations grew into an original song and music video created by staff and students at King Elementary. The project, titled “I Am,” was led by building assistant and mentor David Webb, also known by his artist name David Benjamin, with support from second grade teacher Andre Ellis.
The inspiration came from Assistant Principal Amanda Felix, who challenged Webb to create an affirmation that would engage students and motivate them to be their best selves.
“She asked me to come up with something that would encourage the kids and inspire them to be better students and better individuals,” Webb said.
As a lifelong musician, Webb immediately began working on the idea. He started by writing the affirmation itself before turning it into a song.
“When I’m given a task like that, I take it seriously,” Webb said. “Music is something I’ve always done, so I started brainstorming ideas and putting words together. Once the affirmation was written, we started thinking about how to bring it to life with music.”
After sharing the lyrics with Felix, the project quickly gained momentum. Webb teamed up with Ellis, and together they recorded the track after school hours in the cafeteria, transforming the space into a temporary recording studio.
The result was a high-energy affirmation song centered on a simple but meaningful message.
For Webb, the phrase “I Am” represents possibility.
“To me, ‘I Am’ means you can be whatever you want to be,” he said. “You can be great. You can be amazing. If you want to be a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, or anything else, you can do it. It’s about being yourself and knowing that you have people behind you supporting you.”
Once the song was complete, the next step was turning it into a music video that reflected the spirit of the King Elementary community.
Students played a central role in the project. Teachers selected students who consistently modeled the school’s expectations of being respectful, responsible, and safe. Those students were invited to participate in the video as representatives of their classrooms and school community.
“We wanted students who were really showing what it means to be a King student,” Webb said. “Kids who were being respectful, responsible, and safe every day.”
After receiving permission from families, the selected students joined staff members and administrators to film scenes throughout the school. Production began in the morning and continued through lunchtime as the team captured footage in classrooms, the cafeteria, and on the playground.
Ellis said the experience quickly became something special for the students involved.
“We started filming in my classroom with a scene that showed a student having a challenging moment,” Ellis said. “From there, the story shows how the student is reminded of the ‘I Am’ statements and encouraged to make positive choices.”
The video then transitions into scenes of students singing, dancing, and celebrating their identity as members of the King Elementary community.
“The kids had so much fun with it,” Ellis said. “You could see how excited they were to be part of something like that.”
For Ellis, the project reflects something deeper about the students he works with every day.
“Our students come from many different backgrounds and experiences,” he said. “They go through a lot, but they are incredibly resilient. Being able to remind them who they are and what they’re capable of is really important.”
Turning the affirmations into music helps that message stay with students.
“You might read something and forget it,” Ellis explained. “But a song sticks with you. Once kids hear it, they remember it. You hear them singing it in the hallways, and that shows it’s making an impact.”
For Webb, that impact is exactly why music plays such an important role in his life.
Raised in a family deeply connected to music, Webb began playing drums in church at the age of five. His father and uncle were DJs, his grandmother was a singer, and music was always part of daily life growing up.
“Music is everything to me,” Webb said. “It’s something I’ve been around my whole life. It’s how I express myself and connect with people.”
He believes music can also serve as a powerful form of encouragement, especially for young people.
“If someone is having a rough day and they hear a song that lifts them up, it can change their mood,” Webb said. “Music has a way of bringing people together and helping people focus on something positive.”
Since the video’s release, that positive energy has already begun spreading through the halls of King Elementary.
Teachers have started hearing students singing the song as they walk between classes or gather in the cafeteria. What started as a project between staff members has quickly become something students feel proud of.
“It’s inspiring to see how excited they are about it,” Ellis said. “They feel connected to it, and that’s what makes it special.”
Looking ahead, Webb and Ellis hope the message of the song reaches even further.
Their goal is to share the video on social media so that students beyond King Elementary can hear its message of encouragement and confidence.
“We hope kids everywhere can hear it and feel inspired,” Webb said. “No matter where they are, we want them to know they’re loved and that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.”
At King Elementary, the song is already serving as a daily reminder.
Through music, movement, and the voices of students themselves, the message of “I Am” continues to echo through the school halls.
A reminder that every student has the power to believe in who they are and who they are becoming.