SINGAPORE - When special needs teacher Andy Ang took over his school's horticulture class in 2008, he had to contend with a barren school garden and disinterested students.

But the 47-year-old pushed on, and together with his students, went on to cultivate a lush, thriving garden.

"I feel that to love plants, this is what I want the students to learn," said Mr Ang, who teaches at the Association for Persons with Special Needs Tanglin School.

"If they know how to care for the plants, I'm sure they'll know how to care for their friends."

Mr Ang is also in charge of the school's Latin dance class and led students to their first Chingay performance this year.

His passion for dancing and desire to help others also led him to volunteer at a wheelchair ballroom dancing class where he met his future wife Julie Chong, who suffers from brittle bones disease.

Find out more about the inspirational "Mr Andy" in the fourth episode of the Heroes Among Us video series.