2019 Ennis Nominee: Peter King
Peter King
Peter King has created a classroom environment where every student has the opportunity to excel and be part of something bigger than themselves.
Working as an educator at The Academy, which is part of District 214’s specialized schools, King teaches math to students who have different social, emotional and academic needs.
Because he knows his students, King knows that traditional methods of teaching, such as lecturing, will not work. Instead, he uses other strategies – hands-on activities, collaboration with peers and technology – to help his students find success.
Every year, King attends conferences and takes classes in order to get more ideas on how to incorporate technology into the classroom. He looks for ways that students can get the most out of working with one another.
He also researches different technology tools to determine how he can reinvent learning and infuse tech into the classroom. These tools have helped him find ways to assess and give instantaneous feedback to his students, as well as aid him in figuring out the underlining struggles of his students and assist based on the data collected.
King uses technology tools to help encourage students to collaborate on math problems and work independently. Not only is he fostering collaboration, but he is also helping empower students to become instructors and help their peers.
He has shared the lessons learned in his classroom with others across the District. Last year, he presented to colleagues at Elk Grove High School during an Institute Day and shared how his strategies to reach different students and his outcomes.
“As an educator, I want my students to find value and success in education,” says King. “Through my modern ways of allowing students the freedom to be lifelong learners, I’ve learned to be a facilitator and to give them the tools they need to be successful.”