Trautwein Educator is Mehlville's Teacher of the Year

First grade teacher Christina Peterman is the Mehlville School District Teacher of the Year for the 2011-2012 school year.

Out of 710 teachers, Peterman was selected because of her student-centered education approach.

“Christina has established herself not only as an outstanding and gifted teacher, but as a highly effective school leader,”  Principal Dr. Donna Wagener said in a district release. “The Trautwein staff has come to rely on Christina’s leadership, collegiality, work ethic and professionalism.”

Peterman will represent the district in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s annual Missouri Teacher of the Year program.

A DESE-appointed committee selects the Missouri Teacher of the Year, who goes on to compete for National Teacher of the Year. 

Peterman has taught at Trautwein for the last seven years. She was inspired to become an educator through her third grade teacher, who helped her through a difficult time.

"She made learning fun and made me feel special," Peterman said in an email to Patch. "As I grew older, I always reflected back on that time and I wanted to be like her. I wanted to have a job that I loved to go to and that made a difference in a person's life."

The teacher said the best feeling is when a former student comes back for a visit and fondly remembers the lessons they learned. 

Outside of the classroom, Peterman has a dog named Louie and participates in Crossfit competitions.