Hello, my name is Jane Peterson,

I have been married to my husband Jeff for 31 years this February 14.  We have 3 grown children and one adorable red haired grandson.  Prior to teaching, I was a free lance Graphic Designer here in Tucson for 12 years.  When my children began school, I started volunteering at their elementary school.  They did not have an Art teacher, so I began working with a group of parents to provide art to our students.  I was immediately hooked on that awesome feeling of watching a student "get it" and celebrate their success.  That work led to a 6 years of teaching for Visual Literacy, an art and literature program,in TUSD.  One school I taught for asked me to teach their students, exclusively.  I taught there for 6 years, until I decided to get my official teacher certification. After graduation, I was offered two jobs on the same day, I chose Walker and I am so glad I did.

Walker and the entire Amphitheater School district support my core educational beliefs; Art fosters creativity and critical thinking skills while building self-confidence in students.  Mistakes become learning experiences and provide opportunities to problem solve and fully participate in art making process.  My job is to facilitate this learning and create a safe, nurturing environment where students can explore and discover the connections Art shares with a world of subject areas.  Focusing on the process allows students to celebrate their failures and their successes because, no matter the result, they LEARN something.

It is hard to believe I have been teaching Art at Walker Elementary School for 10 years now.  Walker has felt like "family" from my first day, and like most families, we have gone through a lot of changes; new buildings, new teachers, new Principals and lots of new students.  A lot of great things have happened here in those 10 years.  Professionally, I became a National Board Certified teacher, Amphitheater Art Coordinator, have just finished the 8th year of Artist's Studio, formerly know as Art Club, and had our 9th Annual 4th grade Pit Fire Event.  Personally, I am proud to have become a grandmother to an adorable little red head and am expecting my second grandchild in December of 2018.  I continue to pursue my pottery obsession and love to travel to new and interesting places around the world.