At Potosi, Ms. Emerson is using her love for English and theater to connect with students and continue her family’s teaching legacy. She arrives with not only a passion for education, but also a strong family tradition. Ms. Emmerson is a fifth-generation teacher, following in the footsteps of many educators before her.
Ms. Emmerson grew up in Baraboo and attended school in Wisconsin Dells, where her mother also taught. Throughout her school years, she was especially involved in theater, an experience that sparked her creativity.
She attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she majored in English Education and Theater. “I chose English because I had a really good English teacher,” she said. Ms. Emerson added, “My family is full of teachers, and I’m a fifth-generation teacher.” Her family’s teaching roots go back to the days when one of her family members taught all grades, Kindergarten through 12, in a single classroom. Now, fresh out of college, she has joined the Potosi Middle and High School teaching staff.
Her original goal was to teach high school English, but her position at Potosi helped her discover a new passion.“I’ve really enjoyed the mix of high school and middle school students here.” She teaches 7th, 8th, and 9th-grade English at Potosi. Now in her first year at Potosi, she says the most rewarding part of her job is, “When all the kids understand what I’m teaching.”
For students who hope to become teachers themselves one day, she offers practical advice drawn from her own experience. “Get to the front of the classroom right away,” she recommended. “I didn’t start doing that until my senior year of college because of COVID-19, but getting experience with students early on is so important.” The more experience you have with students, the better.
As she settles into her classroom at Potosi School District, it is clear that her passion for education and her family’s teaching legacy continue to guide her. At Potosi, she’s already making a positive impact and enjoying the welcoming atmosphere.