Teacher adopts student in story compared to real-life ‘Matilda'

In 2021, teacher Lexi McClelland greeted students when Mary, a bubbly 8‑year‑old in foster care, burst in singing. McClelland felt a profound pull, describing it as God‑led. Mary had lived in six homes; the teacher, then 24, later adopted her, echoing a ‘Matilda’ narrative.