From Straw Beds to Global Classrooms
By Peter Horton – Educator, Teaching the World!
I was born into simplicity—no electricity, no running water, no bed. Just a 16 x 20 shed in Fredric, Michigan, warmed by a wood stove and surrounded by the quiet resilience of my parents. My father, with only a second-grade education, borrowed $50 to stake a claim on that humble shelter. My mother, who reached eighth grade, stitched together scraps of fabric and stuffed them with straw to make me a bed. We drew water from a well fifty feet away and walked the opposite direction to reach the outhouse.
But I didn’t know we were poor. I didn’t know what education meant. What I did know was kindness—like the teacher who sat me next to the most beautiful and brilliant girl in class, hoping her light would guide me.
We moved often—Caseville, then back to Utica—chasing work, chasing hope. I loved sports but struggled in school. At age 12, my family entered the restaurant business. I learned to cook, serve, and speak with adults. That kitchen became my first classroom, and the customers my first students.
In November 1976, I joined the Army. Within a week, I was promoted to squad leader—not for my rank, but for my heart. I was always helping others. That instinct—to serve, to uplift—became my compass.
By 1980, I couldn’t find a job. So I enrolled in college. My reading level hovered around eighth grade, and my writing lagged behind. I couldn’t take real college courses at first—I had to earn my way in. But I worked harder than anyone, fueled by grit I’d learned in the kitchen and on the field. Over time, I earned multiple degrees.
Then came 2004. I lost both my parents and the business I’d built, having spent 18 months caring for them. Some called it a midlife crisis. I called it a turning point.
A friend asked what I’d do next. I didn’t know. But then, a conversation with someone in China changed everything. A month later, I boarded a plane—and stepped into the life I was meant to live.
I fell in love with teaching. With students. With cultures. With the world.
I walked the Great Wall of China. Rode camels past the pyramids of Egypt. Dove into the crystal waters of the Philippines. I taught in Korea, Saudi Arabia, Thailand—each country a new chapter, each classroom a new home.
I’ve now traveled through 32 states and 12 countries. And today, I’m back in Saginaw, Michigan—building a legacy-grade educational platform to serve learners, parents, teachers, and donors around the globe.
Teach the World. Empower Every Learner.
