Union Teacher Named 2022 Oklahoma Teacher Of The Year

Oklahoma's 2022 Teacher of the Year is from Tulsa. During a ceremony in Oklahoma City, it was announced that Union High School Teacher Rebecka Peterson is the state Teacher of the Year. 

Peterson is an AP and pre-calculus teacher at Union High School. Peterson has 12 years of teaching experience and during that time, she has brought her AP Calculus pass rate from 50 percent, up to 88 percent. Peterson herself has said in the past, "I feel alive when I am with my students. I love who I am when I am with them. This job is my calling."

Starting July 1st, Peterson will step away from the classroom and take on her full-time Teacher of the Year duties, which include speaking engagements and serving as Oklahoma's ambassador for teachers.

Of the 12 finalists for 2022, seven were from Green Country, including teachers from Bixby, Tahlequah, Collinsville, Union, Tulsa, Coweta, and Bristow Public Schools.

In a statement, Union Public Schools Superintendent Kirt Hartzler says: "We are deeply pleased with the selection of Union’s Rebecka Peterson as State Teacher of the Year. Even among this stellar group of statewide nominees, I can think of no one who so epitomizes the qualities of teaching excellence. In every interaction with students, she shows great care and a generosity of spirit that is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Rebecka is a testament to the power of public-school teaching, and we are extremely proud of her."