IT’S A PHYS ED DEPARTMENT TAKEOVER! This week, our favorite PE teachers, Bradley Kurz and John Archer, teamed up for a special edition of Teacher Feature. Here’s how it went down…
FIRST, MR. KURZ INTERVIEWED MR. ARCHER:
MR. KURZ: So, how long have you been a PE teacher? How long have you been teaching at Waters?
MR. ARCHER: This is my 2nd year at Waters and my 6th year as a teacher. I have taught PE for 5 years. I also spent a year as a High School Drivers Education Instructor. Teaching both the classroom phase and the Behind the Wheel phase. I attribute my patience as a teacher to sitting in the passenger seat of a car with a 15 year old who has never driven a car before or taking that student on the highway for the first time.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Carol Stream in the Western Suburbs.
What sports did you play in school?
In middle school, I played basketball. In high school, I played basketball for 3 years and ran Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Track and Field for 4 years. At Lewis University, I competed in Cross Country and Track and Field for all 4 years.
As an adult, what’s your favorite sport to watch?
My favorite sport to watch is probably Basketball. However, I could also sit down and watch any type of endurance race like a marathon, Tour de France bike race, or any track and field meet. There is something amazing about runners who push their bodies to achieve goals deemed impossible by so many people.
What about to play?
I have played basketball for most of my life. For a few years after college I played in a few different adult mens leagues, however that stopped after I had 3 major ankle surgeries. I am still very active as a runner. I have completed the Chicago Marathon a few times, and I was supposed to run the 2020 Chicago Marathon until it got cancelled . I also love to run local road races, trail races through the woods, and Spartan obstacle races. This year has been rough with all the races being cancelled, however, it gave me a chance to train and build my base mileage up. Hopefully there can be races next year.
If you could meet three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
1. Michael Jordan: I grew up in the 90's, and everyone wanted to "Be like Mike!"
2. Steve Prefontaine: American runner who competed in the Olympics. Changed the American running scene in the 70's. Was also one of the first Nike athletes.
3. Jim Ryun: First American to run faster than 4 minutes in a mile.
What's your favorite way to spend a free Saturday?
I love to spend time outdoors, unplugging from technology and the world for a bit. I usually spend time going on walks with my wife and our dog, going on bike rides, or going to her parents’ lake house. I also love going for long runs to enjoy the weather.
THEN IT WAS MR. ARCHER’S TURN:
Mr. Archer: How long have you been a PE teacher? How long have you been teaching at Waters?
Mr. Kurz: 16 years—and I’ve been at Waters the whole time.
If you could time travel, where would you go?
I would just go back to the 90's. It was an exciting time to be alive. Music was great, and the Bulls were actually good!
What's the one thing you couldn't live without?
Pizza. For nostalgic reasons, I would have to say Aurelio's always brings me back to my childhood.
Would you rather hit a world series winning grand slam or a NBA finals clinching three-pointer?
I would pick the three-pointer. I was always into basketball more than baseball. I enjoyed watching The "Last Dance" documentary.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Always put your family first and never forget where you came from.
Thanks guys! We appreciate all that you’re doing to keep our kids as active as possible!
FIRST, MR. KURZ INTERVIEWED MR. ARCHER:
MR. KURZ: So, how long have you been a PE teacher? How long have you been teaching at Waters?
MR. ARCHER: This is my 2nd year at Waters and my 6th year as a teacher. I have taught PE for 5 years. I also spent a year as a High School Drivers Education Instructor. Teaching both the classroom phase and the Behind the Wheel phase. I attribute my patience as a teacher to sitting in the passenger seat of a car with a 15 year old who has never driven a car before or taking that student on the highway for the first time.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Carol Stream in the Western Suburbs.
What sports did you play in school?
In middle school, I played basketball. In high school, I played basketball for 3 years and ran Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Track and Field for 4 years. At Lewis University, I competed in Cross Country and Track and Field for all 4 years.
As an adult, what’s your favorite sport to watch?
My favorite sport to watch is probably Basketball. However, I could also sit down and watch any type of endurance race like a marathon, Tour de France bike race, or any track and field meet. There is something amazing about runners who push their bodies to achieve goals deemed impossible by so many people.
What about to play?
I have played basketball for most of my life. For a few years after college I played in a few different adult mens leagues, however that stopped after I had 3 major ankle surgeries. I am still very active as a runner. I have completed the Chicago Marathon a few times, and I was supposed to run the 2020 Chicago Marathon until it got cancelled . I also love to run local road races, trail races through the woods, and Spartan obstacle races. This year has been rough with all the races being cancelled, however, it gave me a chance to train and build my base mileage up. Hopefully there can be races next year.
If you could meet three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
1. Michael Jordan: I grew up in the 90's, and everyone wanted to "Be like Mike!"
2. Steve Prefontaine: American runner who competed in the Olympics. Changed the American running scene in the 70's. Was also one of the first Nike athletes.
3. Jim Ryun: First American to run faster than 4 minutes in a mile.
What's your favorite way to spend a free Saturday?
I love to spend time outdoors, unplugging from technology and the world for a bit. I usually spend time going on walks with my wife and our dog, going on bike rides, or going to her parents’ lake house. I also love going for long runs to enjoy the weather.
THEN IT WAS MR. ARCHER’S TURN:
Mr. Archer: How long have you been a PE teacher? How long have you been teaching at Waters?
Mr. Kurz: 16 years—and I’ve been at Waters the whole time.
If you could time travel, where would you go?
I would just go back to the 90's. It was an exciting time to be alive. Music was great, and the Bulls were actually good!
What's the one thing you couldn't live without?
Pizza. For nostalgic reasons, I would have to say Aurelio's always brings me back to my childhood.
Would you rather hit a world series winning grand slam or a NBA finals clinching three-pointer?
I would pick the three-pointer. I was always into basketball more than baseball. I enjoyed watching The "Last Dance" documentary.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Always put your family first and never forget where you came from.
Thanks guys! We appreciate all that you’re doing to keep our kids as active as possible!
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