Erika Peterson 

St. Genevieve Catholic School 

2733 W Potomac Avenue, Apt 3  4854 W Montana Street 
Chicago, IL 60622  Chicago, IL 60639 
(269) 767-3858  (773) 237-7131 
peterson.erika.k@gmail.com  https://www.stgschool.org 
https://erikakpeterson.weebly.com/ 
 
Education 
 
Master of Arts Michigan State University 
2020 Teaching & Curriculum 
 
Teacher Certi cation Program Michigan State University 
2012 Interdisciplinary Social Science/Psychology 
 
Bachelor of Arts Michigan State University 
2009 Psychology 
 
Illinois Professional Educator License - Secondary Education (Grades 6-12) 
Social Science (Grades 6-8) 
Social Science—History, Psychology (Grades 9-12) 
 
 
 
Professional Experience 
 
2013-Present Teacher St. Genevieve Catholic School 
‣ Devise, develop, and instruct new project-based learning course for grades 6-8; plan  
and teach grades 6-8 social studies (2019-present) 
‣ Teach and develop curricula for grades 6-8 writing/ELA and grades 6-7 social studies  
(2013-2019); maintain school technology 
‣ Sustain strong standard of preparing students to succeed at top Chicago-area high 
schools and in honors and AP courses 
‣ Maximize student engagement and mastery of learning goals through use of learner 
pro les, pathways, menus, and playlists 
‣ Spark inquiry into high-order, learner-generated questions through distinguished use 
of communication with students, questioning and discussion techniques 
‣ Lead junior high PLC in driving deeper learning through collaboration and creation 
of cross-curricular content 
‣ Empower signi cant student growth on ACT Aspire English (percentage of cohort 
ready or exceeding increasing by up to 16% annually; average increase of 10%) and 
Writing (up to 52% increase annually; average increase of 36%) 
 
 
 
 2012-2012 Temporary Assigned Teacher Rickover Naval Academy 
‣ From August through November, planned for and instructed general and AP  
Psychology, inclusion US History 
‣ Communicated and collaborated with department and special education faculty  
members to e ectively meet student needs 
‣ Designed authentic and rigorous assessments by utilizing questions and formats 
from past AP Psychology exams 
‣ Engaged students of all ability levels in successfully reading and analyzing primary 
source texts and academic journal articles 
 
2011-2012 Teaching Intern John A. Walsh Elementary School 
‣ Established lead-teaching presence in two sections of sixth grade World History at  
beginning of year 
‣ Designed inquiry-based and active learning activities, facilitated student discussion  
and debate, and utilized project-based learning to successfully increase student  
engagement 
‣ Adapted school-mandated Lucy Calkins writing program—designed for grades  
3–5—for use in 5th and 6th grades, building students’ excitement for writing and  
writing stamina 
‣ Revitalized reading intervention sessions with transition from teacher-led storytime  
to small-group instruction, seeing signi cant growth in student Lexile scores 
‣ Actively participated in school community, attending sta meetings, collaborating  
with grade-level team, supporting family outreach e orts, and supervising  
extracurricular events 
‣ Continued to ful ll above roles as a volunteer upon o cial completion of internship 
 
 
 
 
Professional Activities 
 
In-School Collaborative Initiatives and Leadership 
 
2019 Collaborative Curriculum Designer—Propose and guide development of  
collaborative interdisciplinary unit on con ict resolution for 8th grade  
ELA and social studies; create and implement unit materials, including  
ThinkCERCA applied writing lesson and unit capstone project 
 
2017-Present Junior High Team Lead—Mentor new grade-level teachers, co-facilitate PLC  
meetings 
 
2016-Present Member, LEAP Innovations Pilot Network—Lead the school-wide  
implementation of personalized learning and educational technology 
 
 
School-Community Collaborative Initiatives and Leadership 
 
2013-Present St. Genevieve Carnival—Work in partnership with St. Genevieve Parish to put on  
an annual (every May) community event and fundraiser; aid with concessions, ticket 
sales, set-up, clean-up, and anything else needed 
 
2013-2015 Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Inquiry-Based Learning Program—Developed  
partnership with museum sta ; received training in inquiry-based learning practices, 
implemented inquiry-based learning in the classroom, hosted classroom observations, 
and created standards-based curriculum map 
Inservices, Workshops, and Conferences 
 
2019 NCEA Convention & Expo—Attendee 
2018-2019 LEAP Innovations Learning Network, Cohort 2—Participant 
2018 LEAP InnovatED Summit—Attendee 
2017-2018 Quill Inservices—Attendee 
2016-2018 ThinkCERCA Inservices and Workshops—Attendee 
2012 Michigan State University Social Studies Education Conference—Presenter,  
“Encouraging Students to Connect with Themes of Social Justice Through the Use of 
Primary Sources” 
2011, 2015 Illinois Council for Social Studies Fall Conference—Attendee 
 
Extracurricular Activities  
 
2017-Present Service Learning Coordinator, 8th grade—Oversee and schedule 8th grade service  
activities within the school (aiding preschool and Kindergarten, cleaning classrooms, 
acting as crossing guards, etc.); ensure that students meet requirements for 
con rmation and graduation 
 
2015-2016 Chaperone, Staddle Camp at Brush Creek Ranch, sponsored by Big Shoulders  
Fund—Supervised six rising seventh-graders from St. Genevieve on a six-day trip to 
science enrichment camp in Wyoming; facilitated orientation, teambuilding, and 
enrichment sessions/assignments prior to trip; maintained communication with 
families regarding all aspects of the trip 
 
Other Work Experience  
 
2010-2011 Youth Advocate, St. Vincent Catholic Charities Children’s Home; Lansing,  
MI—Worked in direct care capacity with children ages 8-18 in long-term residential 
and case planning programs 
 
2009-2010 Wrap-Around Assistant, Stepping Stones Montessori School; East Lansing,  
MI—Supervised lunch, recess, and free reading in combined upper and lower 
elementary classroom (1st-6th grades) 
 
Awards, Honors, and Distinctions 
 
2019 Google Certi ed Educator—Level 1 
2018-2019 Host, ThinkCERCA Learning Walks 
2018 St. Genevieve School Faith to Move Mountains Faculty Award 
2015-2016 Authentic Assessment Curator for St. Genevieve School AdvancED Accreditation  
2005-2009 Member of Michigan State Spartan Marching Band and Spartan Brass—Trumpet 
 
Professional Memberships and Organizations 
 
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) 
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) 
 
Professional Journal Subscriptions 
 
Journal of Learning and Instruction 
Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 
Social Education 
 
Topics of Interest:  ‣ Minimally structured and active learning pedagogies in the middle and upper grades 
‣ Assessment and evaluation—mastery/competency-based assessment, grading reform, 
rubric design and use, e ective feedback, assessment as learning 
‣ Blended, personalized, and technology-rich instruction and learning 
‣ Personal and professional tensions for teachers—politics, work-life balance 
‣ Project-based learning 
‣ Student autonomy, ownership, and motivation