EASTMAN, Ga. — Mrs. Kim Peterson, Dodge County's 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year has over thirty years of teaching experience.
At first, her teaching career began at Summerfield Elementary in North Carolina, then she decided to move to Dodge County, Georgia in the summer of 1992. Since her time in Dodge County, she's taught for over three decades of students.
Teaching is something she will say is in her family genetics, as her aunts and grandmother were longtime educators in the Dodge County School System. Her husband, Petey, was even a Dodge County Middle School teacher until his own retirement.
Also, Peterson's daughters Kelsey and Kaylee followed their own mom's footsteps in the career of teaching. She even was blessed to teach alongside her sister, Jill, and her niece Camryn this school year!
"It's just in our genes to be teachers," Peterson said.
Nominating student second grader Lynn Brown, wrote a sweet letter on why he really loves his favorite teacher. He even detailed how his teacher encourages her students when they forget an assignment instead of scolding them and the fun educational experience of hatching eggs Mrs. Peterson brought to class this year.
"Mrs. Peterson always tells us to be friendly and fair, she's a very fun teacher," Brown said.
Peterson says she always wanted to be a teacher. Her teacher in first grade initially inspired her to make that decision and to be able to make a difference in children's lives.
With her time coming to an end at South Dodge Elementary, the administrators there commend her for her commitment and dedication to educating those over the last thirty years.
Mrs. Peterson may be retiring after this year but she still expects to make a difference in young children's lives- her grandkids she's expecting later in the year.
Congratulations, Mrs. Peterson!
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