Teacher of the Year Addresses Over 9,000 of ‘Her Own’
PHILADELPHIA—To rousing applause and a standing ovation, 2007 National Teacher of the Year Andrea Peterson delivered the Fourth of July keynote to over 9,000 educators gathered in Philadelphia, Pa., for the National Education Association’s annual Representative Assembly. Passionate and inspirational, the address was full of examples—including a spontaneous tribute—of the difference the Granite Falls, Wash., music teacher has made in the lives of her students.
Peterson has been recognized for her ability to use music to increase the achievement of her students. She’s credited with revitalizing the music programs at both the elementary and high school levels in the Granite Falls School District to the extent that additional faculty needed to be hired. Among other benefits, students have been motivated to participate in music competitions, and create choirs, a high school chorus, and a jazz and marching band.
And it was her interaction with Travis, a third grader with low self-esteem—resulting from the reading and writing skills of a pre-first grade level—that showed the then second-year teacher that all children can learn—but not in the same way or at the same rate. “Children need adults to validate their unique and individual gifts,” said Peterson. “We need to celebrate what is special about each child and use those abilities to help them learn.”
Upon realizing the 2007 Teacher of the Year happened to have been one of her favorite teachers, Washington Education Association delegate Beth Hammerberg made her way to the podium. Once there, NEA President Reg Weaver called the agriscience teacher-to-be onstage to deliver an impromptu declaration of appreciation to a surprised Peterson—and one of the most touching moments of the action-packed Representative Assembly.
During the Representative Assembly, delegates from around the country discuss, debate and vote on critical issues facing public education, such as teacher recruitment and retention and education funding. A major topic at the Representative Assembly has been No Child Left Behind, the Bush administration’s controversial education reform program up for congressional reauthorization this year.
Along with setting NEA’s agenda for the coming year, delegates at the Representative Assembly will hear eight presidential candidates—seven Democrats and one Republican—lay out their visions for the future of America’s public schools. The Representative Assembly, one of the largest democratic decision-making bodies in the world, concluded July 5, 2007 in Philadelphia.
Noting that candidates addressing delegates to date had mentioned the cuts to school arts programs as a result of No Child Left Behind, NEA President Reg Weaver praised Peterson’s skill and ability to use music to address the achievement issues of some of her students. “Not only is Philadelphia the ‘City of Brotherly Love,’ it’s also known as the home of the ‘Philly Sound,’ a testament to the city’s stellar history of producing some of the best musicians and the best music of yesterday and today,” Weaver points out. “Thanks to music educators like Andrea, this nation will continue to have a pipeline of music and great musicians just like the ones hailing from Philadelphia.”
More news from the NEA Representative Assembly
Posted July 9, 2007