Hi! I’m Emily!

Elementary teacher, educational advocate, entrepreneur, quote enthusiast

I’m originally from Western New York and I have always loved learning! I would watch my big brother get on the bus every morning and shake with excitement for the day it was my turn to take the bus to school. If it were up to me, I’d always be in school, but because it’s expensive, I buy a LOT of books instead.

Throughout my own schooling as a child and young adult who experienced trauma and PTSD, school was a safe haven, a place that focused me at times. Alternatively, school could also be a place of great anxiety and struggle. My experiences gave me insight to the highs and lows of the education system for students like myself.

I’ve always loved working with kids and have known from a young age that whatever path I chose would involve working with kids. I started babysitting my neighbors’ kids and even helped out at the neighborhood daycare. When I realized that education was the path for me, I thrived in all of my courses.

I graduated from SUNY Fredonia in May 2013 with a BSc in Early Childhood/Childhood Education. From there, I moved south to teach in a rural county in North Carolina. I spent three years there and, in my third year, I also returned to school and received my MSEd in Elementary Education with a Specialization in Reading and Literacy from Walden University in May 2016.

I embarked on a new adventure in a small city in Nebraska where I taught for three years at the largest elementary school in the district. I met my husband, Ben in 2018 (almost immediately after swearing off relationships, of course).

In 2019, we moved to Colorado and bought a house! I was teaching at a Project-Based Learning (PBL) school.

Then, the pandemic hit. We all know how that went.

The 2020-2021 school year was a challenge on every level. I ended up admitting to an almost lifelong eating disorder and got the help I needed through a virtual Intensive Outpatient Recovery Program. I’ve been choosing recovery ever since.

In April 2022, Ben and I welcomed our son, Owen to the world. Oh my stars, how everything changed!

I returned to the classroom in August when Owen was 4 months old and I was determined to not allow motherhood to impact my teaching . . . (This did NOT happen.)

I was struggling! I’ve taught after MANY sleepless nights before, but that was nothing compared to infant mom sleepless nights. Oh my stars! In the end, I had to choose between my son and family, my mental health, and teaching. I stepped away from teaching in December 2022.

In the year that followed, I’d been building up a LOT of new knowledge to start my business here. Not Your Ordinary Teacher is my continuing effort to positively impact education . . . through supporting teachers!

I will be returning to the classroom in the Fall of 2024 AND I recently began my doctorate in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation!

I’ve been hearing the teachers in my life and the teachers all over social media saying the SAME THINGS. You are all asking for classroom and behavior management support! You are asking for help and I’m not hearing or seeing enough administrators GIVING you that support.

So, I’m not waiting around for districts to get it together . . . I’m going to bring the support directly to YOU! NYOT is here to give you the training, resources, and knowledge to get you REAL and LASTING support for your classroom.