Rachel Peters

Lander, WY | 7-12, Mathematics, 2021

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

In my role as interventionist I have had many students come to me already feeling defeated by mathematics. They will tell me they aren't math people and can't do it. However, I have also seen many of those students change their mindset while working with them in my intervention classes. It is incredibly rewarding to see those students gain confidence in their mathematical abilities. That keeps me motivated to continue to serve my students and students across the country in the best way possible.

What has been the most transformative moment that affirmed your impact on STEM education?

I have known that I have made a difference for many of my students in the schools I have been lucky enough to teach in but I never dreamed that I would have much of an impact on the greater STEM education community. However, after developing the intervention program at Lander Valley High School I started sharing that program at regional and national conferences. I was hoping that I would get a few participants to learn about my work. What I quickly learned was that people were interesting in hearing about how to support struggling learners at the high school level. My sessions were packed. And then people started emailing and asking about our intervention work. That is when I realized how my impact went beyond my school and students.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

Lately I have felt frustrated that STEM education seems to be under attack. My hope as an awardee is to convince people how important STEM education is for the good of our country as a whole and in order to value that we need to support our STEM teachers. When our teachers feel supported it is easier for them to inspire the next generation and keep our country as innovators.

Biography

Rachel Peters has been a mathematics teacher for more than 20 years, including more than 14 years at her current school, Lander Valley High School in Wyoming. She has also taught at Ventura High School for one year, Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School for three years, and Mediapolis High School for two years, all in Iowa. As the Mathematics Interventionist, Rachel individualizes lessons for students to provide additional support so they can be successful in their grade-level classes. Rachel developed the mathematics intervention program at Lander Valley High School and the students involved in her program have seen high levels of success. In addition to her role as an interventionist, Rachel teaches Advanced Placement Calculus. Rachel is passionate in her belief that all students can achieve at high levels of mathematics. As a result, in just four years of the intervention program, Rachel has seen students start in her mathematics intervention program and continue on to be successful in high-level courses, such as Precalculus, Statistics, and even Advanced Placement Calculus. Rachel has presented sessions on her intervention program at local and national conferences including the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting. She also provides professional development to teachers throughout the country through her work with the Mathematics Vision Project. She was also named the Fremont County School District #1 Teacher of the Year in 2017. Rachel has a B.A in mathematics education from Wartburg College and a Master’s of School Mathematics from Iowa State University. She is a certified mathematics teacher and also has her National Board Certification in Adolescent and Young Adulthood Mathematics. Rachel is also the proud mom of three wonderful children.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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