© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

How calculus inspires National Teacher of the Year to find the good in hard times

High school teacher Rebecka Peterson recognizes that it's rare for students to be taught by a biracial, bilingual female in mathematics. (Courtesy)
High school teacher Rebecka Peterson recognizes that it's rare for students to be taught by a biracial, bilingual female in mathematics. (Courtesy)

High school teacher Rebecka Peterson recognizes that it’s rare for students to be taught by a biracial, bilingual female in mathematics.

That’s one reason why — as Oklahoma’s Teacher of the Year, and now National Teacher of the Year — she’s lifting up her identity as a Swedish-Iranian immigrant.

Peterson tells Here & Now‘s Deepa Fernandes about how she’s using her moment in the spotlight to help fellow teachers struggling through unprecedented challenges find the good in each day.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.