Anyone who knows Ms. Peterson will tell you that she is a shining star in our community. After 25 years of true dedication to our Husky community, she will blaze the trail on a new path. Because many of us, myself included, regard Ms. Peterson as both a mentor and a genuine friend, we are all saddened by her departure. 

Ms. Peterson joined the Flint Hill community in 2000 after recently completing her Master of Arts in English Education. Over the past decade, she has taught a variety of different classes in our Upper School English department. These classes range from Freshman Year English I to Creative Writing and, most recently, AP Literature. While she is primarily a teacher, she also serves as a school sponsor for both the Muslim Student Association and the Junior Optimist Club, which engages with residents of a local senior living facility through games. Along with this, she also serves as one of two teachers elected to the Academic Honor Council and runs the Flint Hill Writing Center. 

To understand the impact Ms. Peterson has had on the thousands of students she has taught, it is important to shed light on previous students who have remarked: 

“Ms. Peterson was the first teacher who made me truly love English. Her kindness, patience, and passion for the subject turned every lesson into an inspiration. She didn’t just teach literature- she made words come alive. I am forever grateful for the impact she had on my learning journey” (Katie Rosenthal ‘06). 

“Ms. Peterson always defied the boundaries in creative writing. She not only taught me how to write but how to be a good writer” (Sofia Augenstein ‘21).

“Ms. Peterson’s constant support fostered a positive environment in the classroom, where her class was a highlight of everyone’s day. She found a way to make every lesson fun and engaging, making a deliberate effort to reach out to every single student in her class”(Corbett Thomas ‘26). 

These experiences are just some of the hundreds of students who have felt an impact from her teaching here at Flint Hill. 

While not only a teacher but a mentor and vision-seeker, she has led many of her “famous” Women Writers’ White-Water-Rafting Trips to the American Southwest, guiding students through Cataract, Desolation/Gray Canyons, and the Grand Canyon. While the trip is no longer offered, many alumni describe it as a ‘life-changing’ experience. Along with this, she has attended seven years of the People of Color Conference, describing it as “the most impactful professional development experience of [her] career,” which speaks to how she has always aspired to create a more equitable and inclusive Flint Hill. 

I met with Ms. Peterson about what she hopes for in Flint Hill when she retires. In my conversation with her, she remarked, “Flint Hill is and has always been a relationship-driven, student-centered institution. I hope we remain a place where we know our students well and can tell, therefore, when something is going on with a student–academically or socio-emotionally. I’m proud of the individual attention we give our students at FHS and the lifelong relationships we build with students because we have the chance to know them so well while they are here.” These hopes represent Ms. Peterson’s long-lasting view of Flint Hill, and she recognizes that our community is one special place where relationships extend beyond just teaching but also nurturing and helping students find their identities and passions.  Along with this, she leaves us with some words remarking on our incredible English department: “I honestly believe the FHS English Department is as strong or even stronger than it has ever been. We support each other fully by sharing materials, knowledge, and learning opportunities beyond the walls of this place. It’s been an honor to be part of this department across the years, but particularly in its current iteration.”

As a Husky for almost seven years now, I hope to see Ms. Peterson’s legacy continue on in our English Department for years to come. Until then, we hope to celebrate all she has done for our community in the final few months of our 2024-25 school year.