The Fort Wayne native was hired just after the most recent school year ended to replace Alex Engelbert, who accepted the principal’s position at St. Bartholomew Catholic School in his hometown of Columbus.
Peterson attended Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran High School where he later returned as a teacher and cross country and track and field coach.
Success led him to being part of a start up college track and field program at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne and a stint as the track and cross country coach at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.
Peterson returned to teach at Angola High School before moving to Indianapolis. Now he is ready for the challenge of his first “true” administrative role.
“I don’t know if challenge is the right word because I love this aspect of the job, but in a smaller community you have to meet people. You need to meet people,” said Peterson. “I want to do that. There may be others that don’t enjoy that aspect of the personal relations but I need to build a personal relationship with all the members of the community. They all will know who you are and how you treat people.
“I think that’s important in making a good impression and letting everyone know I care … letting everybody know I am not just here for a minute and leaving. I am somebody that is committed to the school and the community. I want to be a good role model to everybody in the community.”
Peterson has developed state championship runners in small school environments and he believes Waldron can follow suit. He also wants to empower the school’s coaches that he will support them at all times.
“As a college head track and cross country coach, I was responsible for everything,” said Peterson. “I really want to teach my coaches at Waldron that way of you are responsible for your team. You are responsible for your physicals. You are responsible for your schedule. I will help you and aid you in any way I can.”
Peterson also will serve as Waldron’s assistant principal and he is excited to work with principal Mark Shadiow and the administrative staff.
“Discipline has never been an issue with me,” he said. “I am looking forward to that aspect and learning from a good principal. Mark Shadiow has already given me a lot of good advice and how we will deal with things and break it down. I think we will work very well together.”
Peterson is anxious to meet students and start recruiting for the athletic department’s various sports teams.
“One of the first things I will be doing is walking the halls,” he said. “I will know every kid quickly at a school like this. I will definitely recruit. I know we share athletes in the same season and I am glad they already do that. Some bigger schools don’t allow that, and I get that too. There will be a lot of recruiting going on (in the halls).”
Waldron’s first day of the 2023-2024 school year is Aug. 8.
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