Andrea Peterson, an elementary music specialist in the Granite Falls School District, has been named the 2007 National Teacher of the Year. She will be recognized by President George W. Bush at a White House ceremony April 26.  

Named Washington state's Teacher of the Year in October 2006, Peterson learned she was one of four finalists for the national honor in January 2007. She is only the second music teacher to win the national title in the 57-year history of the award.

Peterson, who has spent all 10 years of her teaching career at Granite Falls, currently teaches vocal and instrumental music at Monte Cristo Elementary.

When she entered the district, Peterson gained the support of  administrators, students, parents and community members to establish a dynamic music education program. In collaboration with her principal, she created a successful five-year plan to improve music learning for the district’s K-12 students.

An advocate of cross-curricular learning, Peterson tailors her lessons to integrate subject matter from other disciplines. Under her guidance, students use music -- sometimes composing and performing entire musicals -- to enhance their understanding of material they learn outside of the music classroom.

"The children of our district have benefited from Andrea’s enthusiasm and passion for teaching," said Siobhan Sullivan, president of the Granite Falls School Board. "She realizes the importance of the arts in all of our lives and fosters a love of music in her students. Andrea collaborates well with other teachers at Monte Cristo Elementary and has composed several original pieces that have been incorporated into student productions. She has worked hard to build a strong music program in our district."

“We are also proud that Andrea and several other teachers in our district have successfully completed the National Board Certification process,” added Sullivan. Peterson was the first National Board Certified Teacher in early- and middle-childhood music in Washington state, and has since been involved in recruiting and mentoring new certification candidates.

As Teacher of the Year, Peterson will serve as an ambassador for education and a representative of the teaching profession. Through the next year, she will travel across the nation to visit schools, deliver speeches and serve on committees.

This was the fourth year in a row that Washington's Teacher of the Year has been named a finalist for the national honor. Two other Washington teachers have won the national title: Elmon Ousley of Bellevue School District in 1963, and Johnnie T. Dennis of Walla Walla School District in 1970.

The National Teacher of the Year Program is sponsored by the ING Foundation and run by Council of Chief State School Officers. A panel of the 15 largest national education organizations chose the finalists.