Judith Peterson. Academic Magnet High

ACADEMIC MAGNET HIGH

Judith Peterson

FAMILY: 3 children (2 sons, 1 daughter) and four grandchildren. All three children graduated from Middleton High School.

EXPERIENCE: Taught English II and Latin at Middleton High School; supervisor of the gifted and talented program; assistant principal at Moultrie Middle School; principal at C.E. Williams Middle.

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in English literature from Connecticut College; master's degree in English literature from Central Connecticut State University; master's plus 30 hours in special education from The Citadel, University of Connecticut, College of Charleston.

WHY I WANTED TO GO INTO EDUCATION: I loved school as a child and admired two high school teachers (one my senior English teacher, the other my Latin teacher) especially. I have always just loved being a student and sharing that with others. Outside of teaching and being a camp counselor, the only other job I have had was working in a bookstore.

SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO: I really want to learn how to drive my "new" small outboard on and off the trailer!

SOMETHING IMPORTANT LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME SO FAR: "Today Matters," the title of a great book by John Maxwell. Every day is important for the children in our schools and the people in our lives. It gives every day and every experience dignity and worth.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: I am the oldest of eight children.

SOMETHING MY PARENTS ALWAYS TOLD ME: My father always said, "If you can't do something right, don't do it at all." However, we all knew that not doing "it" was not an option. We had to do our best with everything.

FOND CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Car trips to Florida from New Jersey with five children and my parents. We used to laugh and sing and fight all the way! But to this day, we all speak of those trips with great joy! My next best memory is summer camp with canoe trips and sailing regattas. It was at camp that I learned to sail and then taught my father; it became a special shared interest, and we even bought a boat together.

SPECIFIC GOAL FOR THIS YEAR: To design, develop and pilot a series of seminars taught by Academic Magnet High teachers and students and open to students across Charleston County School District. We may name it the Academic Outreach Seminar Series.

CONTACT INFO:

Judith Peterson

Academic Magnet High School

1525 Ave. B South

North Charleston, SC 29405

746-7905

judith_peterson@charleston.k12.sc.us

-- Diette Courrege