This feature was printed in the April 2025 issue of ‘hood Magazine. To see this article in print, check out our digital issue of ‘hood!
Click the link to read all of this year’s nominations for Educator of the Year.
2025 Educator of the year is Presented by: The Bancorp, Sanford fit, and Solis Photography
Holly Peterson is our ‘hood 2025 Educator of the Year! Mrs. Peterson is a Kindergarten Teacher at Tea Area Venture Elementary School.
Holly Peterson’s school, along with the Tea Area Parent Teacher Organization, knows how to put on a celebration, and when ‘hood Magazine, along with The Bancorp, Sanford fit, and Solis Photography, arrived to surprise her with the 2025 Educator of the Year award, the excitement was electric. The elementary school was excited to celebrate a teacher whose passion and dedication have made a lasting impact.
A dedicated kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Peterson has always felt at home in the classroom. “I have always felt comfortable in a teaching role; it feels natural to me,” she shared. “When I was growing up with my two sisters, we played school a lot, but I was always the teacher!” That passion has carried through to her career, where she works tirelessly to create a welcoming and engaging learning environment for her young students.
Kindergarten can be an unpredictable grade to teach, and Mrs. Peterson says that every day is filled with stand-out moments! “One day, it might be a student learning to tie their own shoelaces and another day, it might be a child trying a hot lunch at school for the first time.”
We asked Mrs. Peterson about some of her favorite parts of being in education. “One of my favorite parts of being in education is the opportunity to develop lifelong relationships with students and their families,” she said. “I also enjoy an exciting fresh start at the beginning of each school year. No two school years are ever the same.”
Thanks to Sanford fit, Holly’s classroom received sensory items, something that immediately excited her students. With a classroom full of curious and energetic kindergarteners, these sensory items will be put to good use!
Winning the 2025 Educator of the Year award is an honor Mrs. Peterson is thankful for. “I feel very blessed and grateful. Knowing that there are so many deserving educators, I feel very honored to be selected for this special award.
Winning Nomination:
I am honored to nominate Holly Peterson for this well-deserved Educator of the Year Award. As both of my son’s Kindergarten teachers, she has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to not only academic excellence but also the emotional, social, and mental well-being of her students. She is a compassionate leader, an unwavering advocate for children, and a true inspiration in the classroom. She understands that education is not just about teaching letters and numbers—it’s about fostering confidence, resilience, and a love for learning that will stay with her students for a lifetime. She is a true role model, a champion for children, and an invaluable asset to the education community.
-Jennifer, Mom of Benjamin and Zachary
