"Recognizing and Celebrating Teachers: From Custodian to Substitutes, Deals to Opinions"

Mike Peterson, a custodian-turned-substitute teacher at Plymouth Middle School in Minnesota, was honored by "Good Morning America" during Teacher Appreciation Week. Peterson worked as a custodian for nearly three decades before becoming the director of the custodian program at the school and earning a bachelor's degree in his spare time. After retiring in 2021, he returned to the school as a substitute teacher for math, his favorite subject. Peterson's colleagues and students praised him for his dedication and inspiration, and "GMA" surprised him with a donation in his name and a new toolset to support his side projects.