Hundreds of people on Friday welcomed National Teacher of the Year, Rebecka Peterson, back to Tulsa from New York City.

She is already preparing to head to Washington, D.C.

The National Teacher of the Year came home to a packed crowd at Union High School, with students, teachers and politicians beaming with pride just to see Rebecka Peterson.

"It's our time, and it's our story. You all are the very best parts of me, so know that I'm going to be carrying you with me all over this nation,” Peterson said during her speech.

The math teacher will tour the country visiting with educators, starting this summer. It means another year away from her classroom.

"It's so hard to leave these people. I mean just look at these amazing human beings,” she said. “I'm trying to tell myself I'm not leaving my classroom, but my classroom just expanded."

With about 150 speaking engagements already planned for the next year, Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler is proud he's able to put a visit to Union on Rebecka's calendar, as she will be the commencement speaker for the graduating class of 2023.

"I just knew. I kept saying that she will be, she will be the National Teacher of the Year and guess what - you are the National Teacher of the Year,” Dr. Hartzler said.

"I did not get to be in Mrs. Peterson's class, missed out on that, unfortunately,” Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum said.

Bynum gave Peterson a key to the city, a place where she has already unlocked so much potential.

"She sees her students in the way that a parent would want their child to be seen,” Bynum said.

"The national level is not big enough. I mean, she could change, and is changing the world,” Union Math Teacher Alyssa Fischer said.

Peterson will speak from the White House on Monday, April 24.