By SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
NICKERSON, Kan. — Nickerson High School Adaptive Special Education teacher Kily Peterson has been named the Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Teacher of the Month for December.
Peterson, who is in her fourth year teaching in the USD 309 Nickerson-South Hutchinson school district, was surprised with the award in mid-December, surrounded by her students, saying the recognition was both unexpected and meaningful.
“I was speechless,” Peterson said. “Teachers in general don’t always get the recognition they deserve, so to be chosen and get that acknowledgment was really amazing.”
Her path into teaching began with a lighthearted childhood decision but ultimately became deeply personal.
“When I was in fourth grade, my teacher let us be teacher for a day,” Peterson said. “Only teachers got to eat the salad bar, and there was cottage cheese, which I really enjoyed. So I decided I should be a teacher. That’s honestly how it started.”
Peterson earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and taught briefly in Texas before returning to Kansas. After several years as a substitute teacher and paraeducator, she pursued a master’s degree in special education. Her decision was influenced by her experiences as a parent.
Peterson’s son, now an adult who graduated in 2017, is autistic.
“I live in the autism world,” she said. “So I understand it from both sides.”
Peterson said working with special education students is not something she views as extraordinary, but rather essential.
“People tell me it takes a special person to teach special education, and I don’t really understand that wording,” Peterson said. “To me, it’s the best job. These kids have my whole heart. I fight for them with everything I have because they don’t always get a fair shake in life.”
Peterson was nominated twice for the award.
One nominator, Diane Lyon, wrote that Peterson “loves her students like they are her children” and works tirelessly to ensure they gain meaningful skills for life after high school, including cooking and job-related abilities tailored to each student’s needs.
Another nomination from Stephanie Oden, along with input from Peterson’s students, praised her compassion and commitment to preparing students for independence, noting that many of them consider her their “second mom.”
Peterson said the nominations themselves meant just as much as the award.
“I was told I was nominated twice, and that made me feel really special,” she said. “I want to thank the people who nominated me.”
Peterson also expressed appreciation for teaching in a smaller district.
“The Nickerson-South Hutchinson district is small, but still large enough to provide a lot of opportunities for every student,” she said. “Not just special education students, but all of them.”
As part of the recognition, Peterson and her students celebrated with pizza provided by Pizza Hut and ice cream sundaes provided by Braum’s.
Peterson said she was eager to return to class after winter break, as students returned in the Nickerson-South Hutchinson district on Wednesday.
“I haven’t seen my kids over the break,” she said. “I’m very excited to see them again and get the new year started.”
