Thornwood 2013 Teacher of the Year - Cecelia Peterson

Cecelia Peterson
Thornwood Elementary
Music Teacher, Kindergarten through Fifth Grade

Education: University of South Carolina, Selected Course, 1997, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, Selected Courses, 1993, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pa., Bachelor of Arts in Music/Teacher Certification, 1992

Teaching History: Thornwood Elementary School, Music, Kindergarten-Fifth grade, 2002-Present, Private Lesson Teacher, Katy ISD, 1999-2002, Warren County School District, Warren, Penn., Substitute and Assistant Band Director, 1998-1999, Williamsburg County School District, Kingstree, S.C., Music & Choir, 1996-1998, Warren County School District, Warren, Pa., Substitute, 1998-1999, Bolivar-Richburg School District, Bolivar, N.Y., Band, General Music, 1994-1995, Richburg School District, Richburg, N.Y., Band Director, 1992-1994

In her own words: “Teaching music incorporates math, art, science, language arts and history in a way that almost nothing else does. I think that’s what Plato was getting at when he said, ‘I would teach children music, physics and philosophy, but most importantly music and all the arts are the keys to learning.’”

“I have a sacred duty to provide a bridge for the students from their academic coursework to the rest of the world. It is often through my classroom that major strides in the social growth are made, that students finally understand how fractions work (through the study of music notation), and that students learn about almost-forgotten words from our nation’s history (through the study of folk music).”

In the words of others: “Cecelia views teaching as a serious responsibility, and demonstrates this with her students each and every day, while balancing this role with laughter, fun and respect for themselves and each other. In Cecelia’s music classroom, you will see learning in a differentiated way where students are given opportunities to learn music in connection with their own lives.” Thornwood Elementary Assistant Principal Vicki Mathieu

Selected Honors, Awards & Activities:
Master Teacher Status, 2012
Campus Technology Representative, 2005-Present
Edmodo Staff Development, 2012
Love and Logic, 2002-Present
J. Landon Mini Grant Recipient, 2005
Texas Music Educators Association Member

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