2007 Teacher of the Year

Andrea Peterson

Hometown: Granite Falls, Washington
Position: Elementary school music teacher
Experience: 10 years
Personal cause: Increasing school funding, which she believes is essential to improving student achievement. See her talk about it at www.nea.org/ref?andrea
Accolades: First person in Washington to earn the National Board Certified Teacher title in early and middle childhood music.

Scouting report: “Andrea’s outstanding work in making music integral to a student’s overall education has not only sparked imaginations, but has allowed her students to succeed in subject areas beyond the arts.”
—Reg Weaver, NEA President

Upcoming year: She’ll take a leave of absence from her classroom and serve as a national spokeswoman for public education.