MORGAN PARK — Daniel Peters of Lakeview was on the sidelines for the Chicago Bears game on Sunday, but he didn't suit up.
Peters was honored by the team for his creative approach to teaching history at Morgan Park Academy. He's one of 16 teachers in the Chicago area who will be honored as part of the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program during the 2015 NFL season.
"The whole experience from beginning to end was amazing. Getting access to the field was so fun. Seeing Soldier Field from the field was a unique experience. It was exciting to see my picture on the Jumbotron," Peters wrote in an email to DNAinfo on Sunday evening.
Peters has worked at Morgan Park Academy since 2011. He was nominated for the award by Lori McGunn, a parent of one of his former students.
“History is typically taught as something that happened ‘in the past.’ Dan Peters finds incredibly creative ways to make it current for his middle school history students,” said McGunn, a Morgan Park resident.
Peters learned he won the award during a surprise school assembly on Tuesday. He received a $1,000 donation for classroom books and supplies along with tickets to the game.
"I never thought that would be a reality in my life. It was very nice of the McGunn family to nominate me for this — an awesome day," Peters said.
McGunn also gushed about the teacher at the private school at 2153 W. 111th St. in Morgan Park. She said Peters' students write poetry, songs and make puzzles about assorted history topics.
"It’s totally creative and far more impactful than another regurgitated test format. For the final exam, the students all wrote and performed a play,” McGunn said.
The award is presented by the Bears along with Symetra and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Itasca-based Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm. Bellevue, Wash.-based Symetra Financial Corp. is a financial services company that provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance.
"When was the last time your child said, ‘I'm looking forward to my history final?' Mr. Peters inspires every student by making history come alive,” McGunn said. “From amazing classroom activities like ‘Be a business mogul from the 1920's’ to a Project Week trip to Springfield and St. Louis, Mr. Peters transforms history from endure to enjoy."
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