Meet the Teacher: Brittany Peterson

Brittany Peterson is an Orono alumnus who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Hawaii. She also received a Masters of Arts degree in special education from Walden University.

“I was a therapist for kids with autism between my undergrad and my masters,” Peterson said.

She also recently received an Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate from the University of St. Thomas.

Peterson is teaching special education at Orono Intermediate School this year.

During the last school year, she worked with 20 students with a variety of disabilities in kindergarten, second grade, third grade and sixth grade at Tanglen Elementary School in Hopkins.

She had been searching for teaching positions in the western suburbs, but she was on vacation in Mexico and Chile when the job at Orono Intermediate School was posted.

“I thought there was no way the job would still be open and I was devastated,” Peterson said.

She is excited to teach again at her alma mater. Peterson was a student teacher at Orono from September to December 2010. In addition to preparing and implementing lessons, she also assisted with the creation of Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and objectives and monitored progress.

Peterson said she wants to build a classroom environment that encourages respect, focus, motivation, creative thinking and problem solving.