If teaching young people is truly a calling, Salem’s 2025 Teacher of the Year knows exactly what it means to answer that call even when you aren’t expecting it.
South Salem Elementary’s Amy Peterson garners school division’s top honor Peterson is an incredibly respected kindergarten teacher who returned to the classroom at South Salem Elementary School after being completely out of full-time teaching for over 20 years.
“This honor is a shock to me, and I still have not completely wrapped my brain around it,” Peterson said. “When I think about all the other teachers who have been named teacher of the year, I don’t tend to put myself in their category. This honor makes me want to work harder to continue to grow, improve, and make sure I am worthy of it.”
Peterson, who uses a combination of “huge love and huge discipline” to nurture her kiddos, began her teaching journey in 1994 after graduating from Washington and Lee University. She was an Academic All American at W&L while competing on the cross country and track teams, and she hit the ground running in her first full-time job teaching kindergarteners at Roanoke’s Raleigh Court Elementary.
“I have always loved being around small children and was pretty sure I wanted to be a teacher from a very early age,” she said. “The children at that age are cute, say funny things, and still have a sweetness about them. Plus, they grow and learn at a very rapid rate.”
Peterson knew her own children would be growing up in a hurry, as well, so once she and husband, Mark, had their first child in 1999, the couple made the decision for her to leave the classroom and become a stay-at-home mom.
“I am in awe of so many teachers who do both and do an amazing job with teaching and raising their own children, but I knew that it would be a huge inner conflict for me to try to do both,” she said. “It was an easy decision for us as a couple, but the lack of a second salary was a definite sacrifice.”
By the time their three children had reached school age, Peterson started to slowly reenter the workforce. She worked as a part-time children’s pastor at their church before eventually returning to the classroom as a substitute teacher.
“I was out of teaching for a long time and the profession had changed a lot with regards to technology,” she said. “Technology has definitely been the biggest learning curve for me and might have been the biggest obstacle to me returning full time after so many years.”
In fact, she was completely happy to continue filling a much-needed role as a substitute teacher. She was even reluctant to take on some long-term substitute roles for teachers at higher grade levels, but now admits those lengthy stints stretched her out beyond her comfort level in several ways.
“Then-South Salem Principal Margaret Humphrey began to ask me to consider taking some long-term sub jobs, but I declined, feeling intimidated, especially when she asked me to do jobs that were in the upper elementary grades,” Peterson said. “I ended up teaching 5th grade math for Katie Crowder and found that I enjoyed it.”
The long-term substitute roles for various maternity leaves at South Salem allowed Peterson to master the ever-changing technology and it allowed her fellow teachers and administrators to see what a “rock star” she was in the classroom.
“Amy is the epitome of a teacher of the year,” said Crowder, who won this same honor in 2023. “She truly has a gift and is perfect in any position she teaches. I was beyond lucky to have the most seamless of transitions on each of my maternity leaves because Amy was in my classroom.”
Crowder confesses that her only concern was wondering if her kids would want her back after having Mrs. Peterson lead their daily learning.
“While she was amazing in fifth grade, walking into her kindergarten classroom is magical,” Crowder said. “She sets positive expectations while making each child feel like they are her number one priority. She meets every child’s needs, exhibits an ever-calming presence, and makes her room a place where learning is fun, mistakes are valued, and expectations are high. Her passion for teaching is an inspiration.”
Peterson also did an extended substitute stint during COVID-19 when she and others navigated fragmented classroom attendance and Zoom sessions. She again exceeded all expectations, but despite the glowing remarks, compliments and encouragement, Peterson had no plans to return to teaching on a full-time basis.
That is until she answered the call.
South Salem’s kindergarten enrollment had an unexpected surge weeks before the start of school in 2022, creating the need for another full-time teacher. Principal Laura James knew that the perfect candidate was already in her school. She just had to convince Peterson to take the plunge.
“I remember mulling it over on the drive home and discussing it with my husband,” she said. “By the end of the night the superintendent and director of personnel had called asking me if I would be willing to teach. Somehow, I heard the word ‘sure’ escape by mouth.”
She took the job and had her classroom ready to welcome students with just a few days of notice. Since then, she has been promoting a family atmosphere and building genuine relationships with her children.
“Amy is one of the most thoughtful and selfless people I have met,” said Taylor Fischer, her co-worker. “She is a quiet leader that has a servant’s heart and goes above and beyond for her students every day. I truly could not imagine a better mentor and friend.”
Peterson’s classroom is highly structured to ensure that even her young learners know what to expect and what is expected from them. The children learn to feel safe and loved and in turn their social, emotional and academic progress all increase rapidly.
“We laugh and are silly at appropriate times, but they know what I expect from them when it is time to listen and learn,” Peterson said. “I always tell my students that my job and their job is help our brains get a little smarter each day.”
Amy met her husband Mark after college while serving as Young Life leaders at Amy’s high school alma mater, Patrick Henry. Their three adult children are products of the Salem School Division and for years they extended their influence on children beyond their own household by serving as foster parents through DePaul Community Resources.
“Fostering children was something our family enjoyed and felt called to do,” she said. “I think when children know they are loved, they are more willing to take risks and try new things.”
Like not letting a call go to voicemail so you can put the needs of others first.
