Cao Jian (L2) reads books with students at a donated library.

Cao Jian, a star principal in Benli village, Kelu town, Leizhou, Guangdong province has made massive changes to the campus environment of Benli Primary School, bolstering the outlook of teachers and students in about three years.

Engaged in rural education for 30 years, Cao's greatest wish is to change students' and parents' ideas and behaviors by education. He explores and promotes gratitude education as an important part of daily teaching, expecting students to learn how to repay society with gratitude as the school has many left behind children.

Besides his supervisory work as a headmaster for 26 years, Cao also acts as a teacher responsible for daily teaching for grades four, five, and six.

He organized a tai chi interest group two years ago to give students more chances to learn traditional Chinese culture. He also established a cultural museum exhibiting Benli village's customs and arts last year.

Benli Primary School was originally named Zhinan Primary School. It has over 110 years of history. The positive changes made under Cao's supervision have gained attention from his peers and the public. In recent years, many caring people and charity organizations from Zhanjiang, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong have donated money and teaching equipment to set up a library, a chicken coop, and a botanical garden. Students are allowed to join in the school's daily management to cultivate their all-round development in terms of morality, intelligence, work ethic, and physical health.