Peterson retires as R-5 assistant superintendent

With a staff member looking on with a smile,Nevada R-5 Assistant Superintendent Christi Peterson reads cards and messages from staffers and community members at a reception held on Friday, May 22. -- Steve Moyer/Daily Mail

Peterson has had a long and productive career, making a difference in the lives of many in the Nevada as well as Walker School District.

She graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Missouri Southern College. A scientist at heart, she earned her Master's degree in microbial physiology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1976. Her teaching career actually started when she was a graduate student and taught human anatomy, physiology and microbiology to pharmacy, medical and nursing students at UMKC. Upon returning to Nevada -- her husband Ed's hometown and where he was setting up a new dental practice -- Peterson spent some time raising her daughter Sarah, who, now grown to adulthood, lives in Nixa with husband David and children, Maya, 13, and Noah, 10. In late August of 1977, Walker schools called her two weeks before school started and offered her a science teaching position. She taught science for grades 7 through12 for the Walker school district for six years. In the fall of 1985, she was hired by John Carmichael and Garland Keithley to teach high school biology and chemistry at Nevada High School. One of the highlights of teaching this first year was that her principal, Doug Story, allowed her to purchase microscopes to teach lab procedures.

During her teaching career in Nevada, she taught dual college credit courses in human anatomy, physiology and advanced biology. She has taught a number of biology adult college classes for Crowder and CMSU.

One of the most memorable moments while she was teaching was when two of her Nevada High School students qualified for the international level of competition at the International Science and Engineering Fair and one student who later became a medical doctor, earned top international honors for his neurology research conducted in her advanced biology class. Many former students jump-started their careers as science professionals in Peterson's science classes.

Peterson began a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at Kansas University in 1992 and she completed her Education Specialist degree at Pittsburg State University in 1994.

As a science teacher, Peterson was selected to serve on numerous state level advisory committees and was instrumental in writing the High School Science MAP test for the state of Missouri.

She began grant writing in 1989 and over a period of 14 years, successfully brought approximately 6 million dollars to the R-5 district, primarily in the areas of technology, curriculum writing, facilities improvement and professional development. In addition, she established the A+ schools program, a DESE program in which high school students meet certain requirements, one of which is to do 50 hours of tutoring within the school district. If they complete the program, they will have the cost of tuition waived at any two year community college or technical school in Missouri.

She procured $500,000 of grant funding to establish this program and worked as its coordinator through 1998.

Peterson's grant writing talents later extended to the "Cops" program. She co-authored an original Cops grant with the city of Nevada, increasing security in the schools and enabling the district to hire Officer Pat McCarty as a school resource officer. Peterson is given credit for directing the comprehensive district wide computer networking via fiber, CAT5 and wireless so that every classroom, office and instructional space in the district was fully internet-capable. She made sure through further grant writing that every classroom in the district had a smart board, one of the newest and most innovative technologies for classrooms. During her tenure as assistant superintendent, Peterson was instrumental in "mapping the curriculum" in grades K-12. Teachers, under her direction, defined and articulated the curriculum throughout all the grades. Consistency in the curriculum was established for each grade level. It didn't matter which teacher a child had, the curriculum and subject matter being taught was the same and it was in alignment with state standards.

Peterson was named assistant superintendent in 1998 after Bill Wynn's retirement. She and then Superintendent Dr. Ted Davis provided the leadership needed to bring the honor of "Accredited with Distinction for Performance" to the district. The district has maintained this distinction since the year 2000.

Peterson's accomplishments are too numerous to be listed but she may be remembered most for her approachable, positive personality. Bus driver, parent, student, secretary, teacher, principal, board member, custodian or community member, Peterson made time to listen, staff members said. Staffers also noted that she was a great problem solver, perhaps due in part to her science background coupled with her common sense approach.

Current Nevada R-5 Board President Steve Cubbage said, " I have had the unique pleasure of knowing Christi Peterson not only while serving on the Nevada R-5 Board but also as a student at Walker. For me and I am sure for her other students as well -- she was one of those impact teachers that you remember throughout your life. Christi was a very good science teacher, but more than anything she was a great motivator. I remember having her for science my junior and senior years at Walker. However, what I remember most is her confidence in us as students. Being from a small school -- graduating class of nine -- she taught us not to be intimidated by the world. Going from a class of nine to the 25,000-plus campus population at the University of Missouri was a big step, but one that Mrs. Peterson made us believe was possible.

"Nine tenths of education is encouragement and no matter what the subject or task at hand, she taught you never to settle for average or the status quo. There was always this drive to get better no matter what level of success you had achieved. She brought that same attitude and drive out of the classroom and into the position of assistant superintendent for Nevada R-5. Someone once said that education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it. Christi Peterson did just that for Nevada R-5 and this community. Her impact and contributions will be felt for many generations to come."