The Presidential Award is a culmination of years’ work—not just my own, but other’s as well. I am who I am because of my family, my teachers, my colleagues, and my students. This award is just as much theirs as it is mine. While none of us became teachers to win awards, we are what we celebrate; and this award celebrates classroom excellence in science and mathematics. To be recognized is an incredible honor and encourages me to continue to learn how to make mathematics exciting and accessible.

Rebecka Peterson Tulsa, OK | 7-12, Mathematics, 2021

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Rebecka Peterson teaches 10th-12th grade PreCalculus and Advanced Placement Calculus at Union High School, where she has taught an array of mathematics courses since 2012. Prior to Union, Rebecka taught at Tulsa Community College and the University of South Dakota, both for one year. At the forefront of her education philosophy is listening to stories. She is passionate about making advanced mathematics exciting, relevant, and accessible through relationships. While calculus enables Rebecka and her students to answer questions such as “If I drink this cup of coffee now, when will I be able to sleep?” or “What does an inflection point tell us about the spread of a virus?” or “What is the average value of one Bitcoin over the last year?” even more importantly, Rebecka hopes calculus class fosters mathematical citizens. These are citizens who reason with logic and data, who can analyze graphs and spot misconceptions, who value discourse and productive struggle, and who recognize the importance of questions over answers. Rebecka hopes students leave her class knowing more about mathematics, more about the world, and more about themselves. Rebecka has served as an AP Calculus Reader for four years and has presented at several district-level events. Recently, she traveled to seven cities in the state to provide professional development for teachers during two sessions: "Creating a Connected Classroom" and "Engagement Strategies for the Secondary Classroom." Rebecka was named the 2022-2023 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. She earned a B.S. in mathematics from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and an M.A. in mathematics from the University of South Dakota. Rebecka is certified in advanced mathematics.

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