‘I just saw a gap we needed to fill’
Teacher’s efforts to help immigrant students land him on the sidelines at a Bears game and $20K for his school
As an immigrant, Erik Perez knows what it’s like to be an English language learner. Now as a high school teacher, his efforts to help kids in similar situations have earned the English Language Learner program at Thornton Fractional North a $20,000 grant it will use to expand outreach for immigrant students.
And as a Symetra Heroes in the Classroom MVP, Perez also got the VIP treatment and a sideline pass last fall to a Chicago Bears game.
Perez, who originally is from Mexico and was an ELL student himself, started out in the district teaching math and coaching cross country, but went for his bilingual certification four years ago.
“I put myself in the shoes of the kids a little bit,” said Perez, who teaches at the school in Calumet City as well as Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing. “I just saw a gap we needed to fill and I tried to fill it.”
Perez helps students improve their English, often through translating materials, using graphic organizers and other visuals and focusing on reading comprehension but also tries to boost their life skills. That can mean helping them get a driver’s license, apply for college, and succeed even if they are undocumented.
Perez also sponsors a firstyear Dreamer’s Club for these students.
“Most Dreamers have been here their whole lives, but worry about how to get into college or have questions about citizenship,” Perez said. “They feel a lot more comfortable talking to you when they know you speak their language.
“I usually can point them in the right direction.”
The grant from Symetra Life Insurance company will help T.F. North create a welcoming room with comfortable seating for ELL and other students and expand outreach for immigrant students, officials said.
Brian Rucinski, principal of T.F. North, said Perez was “just incredible, an amazing person, teacher and coach.”
“He just really builds strong relationships with his students and athletes and has a way to really motivate students to do
their best,” Rucinski said. “He goes above and beyond.”
He said much of that motivation goes on outside the regular school day. Perez goes on camping trips with his team every summer, does family potluck dinner parties during season and has movie nights for families and students.
“He’ll take a student to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) to try to help him get his driver’s license,” Rucinski said.
“He was the perfect nominee for the award and the grant ties in perfectly with what he’s already been trying to do,” Rucinski said.
He called the planned welcoming room a “safe space” that will offer ELL students a comfortable area to do homework, but also “teach kids the skills they’ll need to kind of navigate life as an immigrant.” The school already works closely with two parent liaisons who will help with the expanded program.
“For students to be successful, it’s a team effort between the school and families, so any kind of relationships and partnerships we can create with families goes a long way to ensuring success for that student,” Rucinski said.