RPS Alumni/Current RPS Staff Spotlight: Jacque Peterson
Jacque Peterson is the district wide Chief of Schools. She attended Ben Franklin Elementary, Central Junior High School (now the site of the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center), and Mayo High School.
Why did you choose to work at RPS after attending RPS?
As a student at Gustavus Adolphus College, I recognized RPS had prepared me well for success in my coursework. I had the opportunity to come back for a work experience with some of my most influential teachers at Ben Franklin over a January Term my Freshman year. Very different than today, when I finished college, teaching jobs were scarce and I would have considered a position wherever one might exist. Fortunately, a 6th grade teaching job became available at Hoover Elementary two days before school started and I was lucky enough to be selected. I was thrilled to come back to RPS as a staff member!
What is your favorite part about your RPS job?
As Chief of Schools, my main responsibility is the supervision of our principals. I oversee the Office of School Support and our primary goal each day is to provide excellent service and support to each of our schools so that the important work of teaching and learning can happen in a safe and welcoming environment. I enjoy that every day presents different challenges and I am proud that our small but mighty team (we fit in one car!) can be counted on to show up strong wherever we are needed.
What is a challenging part of your job?
Managing crisis situations swiftly and with precision. We have a solid team who train and work well under pressure together, including School Support, Communications and our SRO colleagues.
What is one thing that is noticeably different about RPS today than when you were a student?
Well, I am in my 35th year with RPS, so what isn't noticeably different?! My first computer experience was in Junior High. The computer filled a small room and involved punch cards. There were no phone in classrooms. I was an office helper at Central and would run messages between the Central building and Coffman which housed the Superintendent's Office and other District people during my study hall. I was the last class at Central Junior High before it was demolished. There were only two High Schools. Both Mayo and JM played football games at the JM stadium because Mayo did not have a football field. Homecoming parades went right down Broadway from Soldiers Field to Silver Lake. Drivers Education was a high school class and we had driving hours in the school parking lot at Mayo. I walked to school up hill both ways (just kidding).
What aspect of RPS are you happy to see hasn’t changed since you were a student?
I still have my athletic letter from my letter jacket and it is an "R" for Rochester rather than an "M" for Mayo. That is a tradition we still carry on today and one I think is important we continue to honor. We have our school spirit and pride, but in the end, we are part of a larger community.
Who was an RPS teacher that had a positive impact on you and why?
My third grade teacher, Miss Carol Vardsveen. She made teaching an art and was the reason I wanted to be a teacher. Mrs. Judy Wendland. She taught next door to me when I was a new teacher and was an amazing role model for me and many others. I thought she was magical! Ron Radke - English teacher and my dad. He taught me the value of hard work.
What about your RPS education would you attribute to getting you where you are currently?
I received a comprehensive K-12 experience at RPS where I learned to persevere through challenges while enjoying extracurricular activities. More than that, as a staff member, I was afforded a variety of teacher leadership opportunities before stepping into an administrative role. I believe all of these experiences provided me with a strong background that has served me well in my current position.