A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Audra Peterson

Audra-Peterson-Family-photoBorn and raised in Porter County, Audra Peterson has always been extremely involved with her family and her community. After marrying her high school sweetheart, Glenn, and having three sons together, Peterson remains extremely involved not only in the county where she lives, but the county in which she works as well.

Currently Peterson serves as the Principal of the A.K. Smith Center in Michigan City, Indiana and the director of the La Porte County Career and Technical Education, overseeing all of the Career and Technical Education programs throughout La Porte County since February of 2012. Peterson first entered the Career and Tech Ed field as a student, participating in a Dentistry program in order to become a certified Dental Assistant. After finishing the Dentistry program and serving in private practice for some time, Peterson was offered the chance ot teach dentistry at the high school level.

"It was so great, being able to return to the Career and Tech Ed program in a teaching position. I could see the light bulbs turning on as they learned and were able to show their passion in high school and that was great for me to be a part of. I love teaching and dentistry, so it was the best of both worlds," Peterson gushed when she spoke of her teaching experiences.

Peterson continued to work in private practice until nine years ago. It was then that she, still teaching dentistry at Portage High School, consulted with the then director of the LaPorte County Career and Tech Ed and helped Michigan City Area Schools start their dental program. Later on, when Peterson was working at the Hammond Career Center, she was contacted by a few superintendents in LaPorte County. They were looking were looking for a some advice on hiring a new director for the LaPorte County Career and Tech Ed, so they consulted Peterson who was also the President Elect of the Indiana Association of Career and Technical Education, which is a state organization that encompasses all Career and Technical Education programs. Peterson met with the superintendents, including current MCAS superintendent Dr. Eason-Watkins, and was offered the job.

"I was looking for a challenge, and I knew they were trying to recreate the programs in LaPorte County. I was looking to see if I could expand and do a turn around with the programs here in La Porte County," Peterson said.

Peterson works closely with all of the high school in LaPorte County to be sure that they are all offering solid career and technical education programs to their students. Her responsibilities also encompass meeting with local businesses and industry and partnering with PNC and the Ivy Tech to ensure that students are getting as much as they can out of their programs. All of the career and technical education programs are now required to be dual credit, participating with either PNC or Ivy Tech, and/or offer a business and industry certification, such as CNAs or certified daycare assistants. Peterson also works closely with the local economic development, particularly EDCOMC and GLEDC, because a lot of the Career and Technical Education programs are driven by economic development.

When she isn't working tirelessly overseeing all of the Career and Technical Education programs in La Porte County, Peterson volunteers her time in both Porter and LaPorte Counties. Having raised three sons, she was very active in Little League for fifteen years, and is currently working on a handicapped baseball field for the Challengers Division of Little League. She also participates in Tri Kappa and works with homeless shelters, food pantries, and donates to the military.

"I try to do this with my students as well – to show them how important it is that we participate, and how much our volunteering can help the community," Peterson said. "Community service is very rewarding and gives the students, and everyone else, the opportunity to network."

In her free time, Peterson enjoys what she likes to call "no-brain activities," meaning activities where she doesn't have to think a lot, just use her hands, like crafting. She also enjoys reading, particularly Nicholas Sparks novels and books regarding leadership. Together, her and her husband enjoy watching their sons play baseball, one of which plays baseball in college and another that plays with a travelling team in Illinois. She also enjoys spending time with her family and their shared "Antique Farm Equipment" hobby.

"We've just always enjoyed showing off and playing with our toys," she said.

Photo taken by Margo Machnik Photography