Illinois Preschool Teacher Shares Unexpected Talent on Radio Morning Show

During a recent segment on The Steve Shannon Show, a preschool teacher proved that she was born to do the job hundreds of families are grateful she does.

The MOST Important Qualities of a Great Preschool Teacher

If you talk to education experts, most agree that the list below is the qualities parents want in their child's preschool teacher.

• Commitment to education
• Empathy
• Organization
• Patience
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Collaborative
• Passion

Let me share a story about one preschool teacher who for more than 35 years, has possessed every one of those qualities, plus one more essential quality.

This is a story about Doreen Peterson from Christ The Rock Preschool in Rockford. She is 97ZOK's new Teacher of the Week.

Doreen was nominated for this honor by the mother of one of her preschoolers, Kristin Rogers, she writes:

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"Mrs. Peterson has always gone above and beyond to make learning fun for her preschools. My daughter comes home excited every day for another day with Mrs. Peterson.

She’s also created such a safe and fun learning experience during Covid! As long as she’s been teaching she deserves this more than anyone. She puts her students and their happiness in front and she’s such a genuine soul to be around her attitude in class and outside is the same and you can tell she truly loves what she does. This isn’t just some job to her. Doreen Peterson is what every teacher needs to be for our children!"

When calling Doreen to tell her about her new honor, she did something a little unexpected and very expected at the same time before I ever had the chance to tell her why I was calling. Which proved to me that she was born to be a preschool teacher.

Listen to Doreen's 'extra' quality in the video below from The Steve Shannon Show.

As 97ZOK's Teacher Of The Week, Doreen Peterson was surprised with a beautiful floral arrangement from Broadway Florist and a delicious cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes.