Margaret Peek Named Teacher of the Year

Ms. Peek at the periodic table

Science teacher Margaret Peek has been selected Gulf High School's Teacher of the Year for 1999-2000. This marks the fourth time she has won the honor.

Ms. Peek teaches Chemistry and Physics and is the chairperson of the Science Department. She is also the sponsor of the Gulf chapter of the National Honor Society, and has served on numerous committees at school and at the county and state level. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Miami, a Master of Arts degree in Science Education/Chemistry from the University of South Florida, and has done additional coursework at the University of California at Berkeley. She is certified in Florida in three areas -- chemistry, biology, and physics. She has also been part of the adjunct faculty at Hillsborough Community College and Pasco-Hernando Community College.

Ms. Peek was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (A little-known fact about her is that her mother worked in the Manhattan Project under J. R. Oppenheimer at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, although Ms. Peek says her mother did not realize the goal of the program was to develop the atomic bomb.) Ms. Peek graduated from H. B. Plant High School in Tampa. Her hobbies are spin and fly fishing, golf, and "being outside."

Ms. Peek joined the faculty of Gulf High School in the 1973-74 school year, and was previously selected as Teacher of the Year in 1975-76, 1978-79, and 1984-85.