News for North Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Denton Teacher’s ‘Uptown Funk’ STAAR Test Video Goes Viral

Kelli Hauser
/
Twitter/@MMScheerios
Kelli Hauser, a sixth-grade teacher in Denton ISD, stars in a STAAR test video that's gone viral.

How can a video about school testing go viral? When it’s performed to Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk.”

Kelli Hauser aka “Lady Hauza” is a sixth-grade reading teacher at McMath Middle School in Denton ISD. Her music video about the Texas STAAR test -- "STAAR Test Funk" -- is designed to motivate kids on the exams. But it’s gotten lots of attention online, too. The video has received more than 390,000 views on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7CQERs2ekQ

Sample the lyrics:

Stop. Wait a minute.

Fill my cup -- put some milk in it.

Go and eat some Shredded Wheat -- a good breakfast is the key.

Kids in Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton ISD.

We show up. We bring a sack lunch. Pack some crackers and Jiffy.

I’m too smart for exams …

The STAAR test, we’re gonna give it to you.

Hauser told the Denton Record-Chronicle: “I can’t believe how many people this video has reached. Honestly, I’m in shock and I’m so excited about all the positive feedback we are getting.”

STAAR testing takes place this week.

You might recall another North Texas teacher’s “Uptown Funk” doing well online, too. In Dallas, students at A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School performed in an “Uptown Funk” video earlier this year. Scores of students danced down the halls, shaking their hips, stepping back and forth.

That video’s gotten more than 12 million views on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EUEg7kd6Cg

Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.