Catherine Motz Peterson · 1996 Honoree

Catherine Motz Peterson has served as head of Capitol Hill Day School for more than a decade. More important than the measurement on the calendar, however, is that she has over-seen the education of an entire generation of students. During that time “Cemmy”, as she has been known since birth, has shared her boundless enthusiasm for learning.

Her own education led Cemmy to her career. Initially her focus was music, her major at Smith College. While working on her senior thesis, the analysis of a group of Beethoven string quartets, she discovered a new passion—“gaining an understanding of underlying relationships—what makes things such as music and math work.” She linked this passion with her desire to work with children and obtained her graduate degree in education from Goucher.

Cemmy’s philosophy is to educate-not by rote, but by teaching children to think. Being able to look for significant patterns, themes, and relationships and then turn that knowledge into understanding is essential in today’s world, Cemmy believes. The students’ parents want a quality, private school education alternative and by meeting these expectations, Cemmy knows that the school plays a vital role in the on-going stability of Capitol Hill. “Families,” she states, “who without the school’s presence might have left the Hill are still here.” Statistics bear her out as seventy-five percent of the students live on the Hill. Cemmy also delights in the fact that recently, one of the school’s alumni returned to Capitol Hill Day as a teacher, a tribute to the school and the community.

Cemmy, an avid gardener, pursues her hobby at both at the school and at the home that she shares with husband George, and children Gregory and Kate. With Cemmy Peterson as Head, the Capitol Hill Day School is fulfilling its mission, one begun 26 years ago.