May 16, 2024
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Troy teacher receives marriage proposal while reading online to her students

Ryan’s students wondered when Ryan’s boyfriend would propose. They soon found out.

By Denise M. Baran-Unland
Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuck in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz. On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuck in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz. On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Ryan)

March 22 was a typical Tuesday night for Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet.

Ryan, her boyfriend, Tom Swartz, and Socko the hand puppet were reading stories to Ryan’s class via Google Classroom as part of Ryan’s weekly Tuck in Tuesdays.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan (right) also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuck in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz. On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading. Ryan is pictured with Socko, the puppet Swartz created for Tuck in Tuesdays.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuck in Tuesday, with her boyfriend, Tom Swartz. On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading. Ryan is pictured with Socko, the puppet Swartz created for Tuck in Tuesdays. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Ryan)

Typically the students tease Ryan and Swartz about getting married. So on this night, Ryan said Swartz turned to the students and asked, “Well, if I were to ask her to marry me, how would I do it?’” To which Ryan said the students replied, “Get on one knee.”

So Swartz asked Ryan to stand and adjusted the camera to show her face. Then he knelt down and proposed.

“I was completely surprised,” Ryan said. “I had no idea he was going to do it.”

Ryan, who has four sons ages 16 to 22, and Swartz, who has no children, also read and record stories at a friend’s farm once a week when they go to feed the pigs. Then Ryan uploads the recorded stories on the school’s website. This way, the students can listen to the stories and see the animals whenever they have time.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan (right) also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuck in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz. On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan (right) also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuc in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz. On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Ryan)

Tuck in Tuesdays, however, feature live readings from Ryan’s living room. Swartz invented Socko, and the kids love him, Ryan said.

“They keep saying, ‘He needs [Socko] to go on American Idol and share his dance moves and jokes,’” Ryan said.

Ryan said her students want to know why Ryan isn’t wearing an engagement ring. And they want to attend the wedding. So Ryan may host a mock wedding at Troy Craughwell before the school year ends.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan (right) also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuck in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz (left). On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan (right) also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tucked in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz (left). On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Ryan)

Another teacher did that last year so the students could participate and congratulate the couple by blowing soap bubbles, Ryan said.

Mostly, Ryan is impressed with the way Swartz interacts with her students. Socko’s creation was Swartz’s idea and Socko’s goal is always to make Ryan laugh onscreen.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuck in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz (right). On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading. Swartz is pictured with Socko, the puppet he created for Tuck in Tuesdays.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuck in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz (right). On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading. Swartz is pictured with Socko, the puppet he created for Tuck in Tuesdays. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Ryan)

“Mr. Tom” – the students’ name for Swartz – has even served as the “mystery reader” in her classroom, Ryan said.

“For someone who never had kids, he has this huge connection with them,” Ryan said.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan (right) also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tuck in Tuesdays, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz (left). On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading. Ryan and Swartz are pictured in Ryan's classroom.

Tammy Ryan, a third grade teacher at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, reads and records stories for her students at her friends farm that Ryan's students can watch later. Ryan (right) also hosts a live bedtime story reading each week, called Tucked-In Tuesday, with her boyfriend Tom Swartz (left). On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Swartz proposed to Ryan during the reading. Ryan and Swartz are pictured in Ryan's classroom. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Ryan)