Cotaco’s TAG students inspire anti-bullying video
Country-rock singer Jordan-Allena Williams sings “It Ain’t Cool To Be Cruel,” an anti-bullying song inspired by TAG students at Cotaco School. | Clif Knight
Cotaco students wrote a new chapter in the history of their school on Wednesday by co-starring in an anti-bullying video with rising country/rock singer Jordan-Allena Williams.
The video features Jordan-Allena singing “It Ain’t Cool To Be Cruel” on a makeshift stage in the new Cotaco School gymnasium, surrounded by students cheering in the background.
The production crew also made other shots of cheerleaders performing stunts and TAG students acting out anti-bullying skits.
Before the video shoot, Allena performed in concert for the entertainment of students, faculty and parents. Her selection of songs included “I Got Nothing,” “Daddy Don’t Know,” “I’ll Be Your Sweet,” and “Rowdy.”
The popular singer was filmed three times while singing the anti-bullying song. She later signed autographs and posed with students for pictures for more than an hour.
Talented and gifted teacher Paula Kiggins explained that the song in the video stemmed from an anti-bullying program her 49 third through fifth grade TAG students put together last January.
“They brainstormed for ideas and performed skits to demonstrate how bullying was having a negative influence on the student body,” Kiggins said. “They also made some short videos and shared them with students groups.”
Songwriter Chuck Oden, who also pastors a church near Hartselle, got involved when he learned what the TAG students were doing.
“I thought they had some good ideas and I pursued the idea of writing a song based on the message they were sending to the student body,” Oden stated. “I enlisted three other writers to join me on the project. They were Randy Finchum, Dennis Knudson and John D’agostino.
“Since Cotaco students were such an important part of the song, We were pleased to come here and let them be involved in the making of the video,” Oden added.
“And, as you can see they are big fans of Jordan (Allena) and are totally caught up in the project.
“We’re indebted to the school staff and Sullivan Productions of Hulaco for providing lighting and sound equipment,” he stated. “Without their help we wouldn’t have been able to put on the concert and shoot the video.”
