Bill Fritz is honored to be one of 11 Teacher of the Year finalists vying for the state's top educator award for 2014, and admittedly really wants to win—for LGBT students.
"It's an amazing honor, though I'm kind of uncomfortable because I'm not used to attention brought to me as a teacher," Fritz said. "I think I speak for a lot of teachers when I say this: we advocate for students; we do not advocate for ourselves. So it's a little uncomfortable position to be in.
"But, winning this award would put me in a position to advocate for LGBT youth, and to be a role model [for gay teens, showing] that [gay teachers] are out and visible in education, too."
Fritz, 50, who lives in north suburban Glencoe, is in his 24th year at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, where he is a communication arts teacher. Fritz and his partner, Tom, 48, who works as a consultant, have been together 20 years.
The winner will be named at the Illinois State Board of Education's 39th annual Those Who Excel/Teacher of the Year banquet Saturday, Oct. 19, in Normal. The state board also will honor more than 180 of Illinois' outstanding educators.
The winning teacher serves as Illinois' ambassador for the teaching profession during the 2013-14 school year and represents Illinois in the National Teacher of the Year program, which the ING Foundation and Target sponsor. The Teacher of the Year will also represent Illinois at NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala.
"Every day in schools across the state, dedicated educators are diligently working to help students become successful learners," Christopher Koch, the Illinois state superintendent of education, said in a news release. "They might be helping a student overcome an obstacle, understand a new concept or apply for college, but they're all putting their students first. I am honored to have the opportunity to publicly recognize these unsung heroes and thank them for their efforts on behalf of Illinois' students."
Brian Curtin, a Schaumburg High School English teacher, was the 2013 Illinois Teacher of the Year.
The 2014 finalists were selected by a committee comprised of administrators, teachers and representatives from educational service personnel, student support personnel and past Illinois Teacher of the Year winners who reviewed about 200 nominations.
Fritz, who has been the sponsor of Stevenson's gay-straight alliance ( GSA ) for 10 years, was nominated for the award by Dr. Joseph Flanagan, communication arts teacher at the same school. "From his beginnings as a Peace Corps volunteer, to his present position as a teacher-leader at Stevenson High School, Bill has grown into a teacher of excellence," Flanagan said in a statement. "Although established as one of our best teachers, Bill would be the first to say that he has more to do, more to learn, and more to grow. [He] excels because he is never satisfied with the status quo and is dedicated to continually seeking new ways to make an impact on his students and colleagues."
Fritz is the fifth Stevenson educator to be named a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Fritz said he thinks he is the only gay finalist.
"It's unbelievable" being a finalist, said Fritz who, over the past few weeks, has received congratulatory calls, emails and text messages from countless students from the past 24 years, and even former classmates, as far back as grade school.
Fritz, who graduated from Loyola Academy, was admittedly bullied through high school. Some of those former bullies also have recently been reaching out to Fritz—to apologize.
"[Being a finalist] also has given others an opportunity, not necessarily to apologize to me [for bullying or anti-gay comments], but to let others and themselves know that they've evolved—and they're proud of themselves, that their feelings of the past are no longer how they feel," he said. "They are thanking me and congratulating me."
Some from grade school have even told Fritz that they now are embarrassed and sorry for how they treated Fritz, he said.
Fritz accepted their apologies.
"There are many school districts in Illinois where LGBT youth are not safe, still," Fritz said. "Hopefully I can help change that through this [honor]."
Stevenson, though, is very gay-friendly, Fritz said. The school has a successful GSA, and students wearing SHS Patriots' traditional green and gold gear actually fall under every color of the gay rainbow. The school even has out transgender students.
"The school has come a long way; we have really evolved. Our school is safe for all students," Fritz said. "The [Stevenson] GSA is a well-funded, well-respected student organization."
A small number of Stevenson students—gay, lesbian and straight—along with a few teachers, will be attending the March on Springfield Oct. 22. The school is even providing the bus for the crew.
"I think it's important that the kids experience a civil-rights act in real-time. I think that's incredible," Fritz said of the upcoming March. "When kids can take civil action in their own hands, I think they are really learning in an authentic way."
Neel Bose is one of Fritz' former student. In a statement, Bose said Fritz' most defining aspect is his "devotion to the student population."
"Outside of the classroom, Mr. Fritz takes apart the barriers and formalities that separate student from teacher and engages his students in a caring manner," Bose said. "Mr. Fritz has an honest investment in the problems of his students who come to him, and strives to find a solution to their problems. His room … has often been a haven for many students whose lives have carried them to his door, myself included."
Fritz also is Stevenson's assistant debate team coach—a post he's held for 10 years—and moderates the Scholastic Bowl.
"I never want kids to feel that they are in a position where they can't stand up for themselves, or that they don't have a voice that's worth listening to, and they're not protected and have an advocate," he said. "Winning this award, I can go a long way in helping kids."
