Mundelein High teacher honored by Bears for being a hero in the classroom
Editor's note: The name of one of the award sponsors was misspelled in the photo caption on this story. It has been corrected to read Symetra Financial insurance company.
A Mundelein High School teacher was honored Friday as a hero in the classroom by the Chicago Bears and other organizations.
Rob Bever, a special-education instructor, received the award from the Bears, the Symetra Financial insurance company and Gallagher Benefit Services during a surprise ceremony. He was honored for being an advocate for the disadvantaged who teaches in ways that are meaningful to students' lives.
"Mundelein is a family, and in order to get here, we have take care of each other," Bever said as he accepted the award in front of an auditorium full of teachers.
He is one of 16 area teachers to be honored for educational excellence during the current NFL season. Winners receive $1,000 donation for books and classroom supplies. They also get tickets to a Bears home game and are acknowledged during an on-field presentation at Soldier Field.
Bever will be recognized at Monday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.
When he got his award Friday, Bever also received a Bears jersey and a football autographed by quarterback Jay Cutler.
Other area winners this season include Lorely Rodriguez of Avon Center School in Round Lake Beach and Julie Urban of St. Paul Lutheran School in Mount Prospect.
• Staff photographer Gilbert Boucher II contributed to this report.