Congratulations to OEA member and Union PS Teacher, Rebecka Peterson, on being named the 2023 National Teacher of the Year!
Rebecka has taught high school math classes ranging from intermediate algebra to Advanced Placement calculus, for 11 years at Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Amid a difficult first year of high school teaching, she found the “One Good Thing” blog. She credits daily posting there to helping her recognize the beautiful and positive experiences occurring in her classroom, which inspired her to stay in the profession. She has since contributed 1,400 posts to the blog. As Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, she has visited teachers across the state to highlight their important work through the Teachers of Oklahoma campaign.
As National Teacher of the Year, Rebecka plans to use her platform to highlight teachers’ stories of the good that’s happening in education. Teaching is a profession that affords creativity, autonomy and purpose, and Rebecka believes that highlighting the stories of joy happening in classrooms across the country will help encourage current teachers and attract new educators to the profession.
To learn more about Peterson, visit: 2023 National Teacher of the Year, Rebecka Peterson – ntoy.ccsso.org
Also, check out this interview with CBS News where she gets a surprise video message from her former students. Make sure you have a box of tissues nearby because it’s a tearjerker!
Can’t get enough? Listen to OEA’S podcast interview from January where she shared her inspiring story as an immigrant and the work she’s done to be a beacon of hope for her students.
Rebecka, we are so proud to see such a wonderful teacher representing Oklahoma and showing the nation how amazing our public educators are!
