SANFORD, Fla. — A Seminole County teacher got the chance of a lifetime thanks to his dedication to his students and school. 

Seminole County Teacher Clayton Donnan spent hours last Friday getting fitted for equipment in order to fly with the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds. 

He went through about four hours of briefings and trainings that morning in preparation for the flight. 

The final piece in this crash course of vital training is a briefing from Donnan's pilot.  

 But Clayton’s preparation for this flight didn’t start here, it started almost 20 years earlier. 

“Like I don’t feel like I’m some sort of super, uber teacher extrordinaire,” Donnan said in a recorded interview earlier this year. 

For the last 18 years Donnan's taught tech classes, founded the school’s music program and raised more than $50,000 for his school, Crooms Academy. 

But last school year he also created a how-to video series to help fellow Seminole County teachers work virtually, which is why Seminole County honored him as Teacher of the Year. 

And that recognition led to the Thunderbirds selecting him for the Hometown Hero program. 

“I’m excited, I’m ready, I’m confident in my amazing pilot’s ability, and I’m stoked! Stoked! Super stoked!” he said that morning. 

His wife and two kids watched eagerly as his pilot fired up the engines, and took off from the runway. 

The pilot did several aerial tricks with Donnan on board, and even let him drive the F-16 for a few minutes. 

The Donnans and many others cheered when Donnan exited the cockpit. Donnan says it’s an experience he’ll never forget. 

“It’s something I’ve dreamed of ever since I was a little kid,” he said.  

But like any great teacher, Donnan wants to use this incredible experience to benefit his students. 

“I hope that they can take away that there’s so many opportunities out there. We can give the kids the opportunity to feel that in a meaningful way, in a more tactile way,” he said. 

It seems Donnan’s always looking for a way to help his kids soar to new heights.