Local educator honored at the White House

Eric Peterson, a Richmond resident and the principal at Dover Elementary School in San Pablo, was honored at the White House for achieving National Board Certification last Wednesday.

Peterson and about 100 other educators took part in the daylong celebration, attended by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and White House Domestic Policy Director Melody Barnes. The National Board Certification is an advanced teaching credential that takes between one to three years to obtain.

“As the nation focuses on building the strongest possible teaching workforce, National Board Certification is the gold standard in affirming excellence in the classroom,” Ron Thorpe, CEO and president of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, said in a press release. “These highly qualified teachers are true ‘nation builders,’ and are the educators who are best positioned to lead the ground-up movement our schools need to reach their potential.”

Only 21 individuals from the West Contra Costa Unified School District are listed in the NBPTS directory and 10 of those were certified this year. Richmond has eight certified educators and San Pablo has four, including Peterson.

Peterson’s specialization is in early childhood through young adulthood and exceptional needs.

Peterson, 40, began his career in 1994 and has taught special education and social studies in Oakland, Berkeley and Alaska. This is his first year serving as principal of Dover Elementary.

“I couldn’t ask to serve with a group of staff and parents more committed to academic excellence for every student than those at Dover,” he said in a press release. “We also have a group of students that are solidly dedicated to their education because of the strong support they receive from their parents, teachers and other school and district staff.”