Soon-to-be social studies teacher Emma Hoeschler is ready to empower her students
From heliest memories, Emma Hoeschler knew she wanted to be a teacher.
“I've always been passionate about working with children, but it took me quite a while to decide what type of teacher I wanted to be,” she said.
Hoeschler's teaching focus only began to manifest itself after a pivotal U.S. government class in her senior year provided her with a firsthand experience of the connection that can exist between classroom content and her personal life.
“I was able to see the potential for social studies education to empower students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities,” she said.
Fulfilling her dreams of becoming an active changemaker in her community, Hoeschler was a founding member of the School of Education Student Government, creating learning opportunities in the School of Education community for students, staff and faculty.
Nominated to be the 2024 Outstanding Secondary Humanities Undergraduate Teacher Licensure Program Graduate, Hoeschler has gained much admiration from her mentors.
“She embodies the role of teacher leader,” said her nominators, Professor Wendy Glenn and PhD Candidate Chelsea Kent. “Emma centers equity and justice in her teaching, inviting students to examine how power and privilege have shaped and continue to shape our global society.”
Poised and ready to start her teaching career, Hoeschler will soon be teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies at Explore K-8 in Thornton, Colorado.
“I am excited to be taking on a classroom of my own and have the privilege to work with a new group of students,” she said “I cannot wait to see what the next chapter holds.”
In her own words
Please tell us a bit about yourself
I'm originally from Denver, Colorado. I've known since before I can remember that I wanted to be a teacher. I've always been passionate about working with children, but it took me quite a while to decide what type of teacher I wanted to be. In my senior year U.S. government class, my teacher tasked my class with finding a problem in our community and proposing a solution for it through the structures of local government. This lesson allowed me to experience firsthand the connection between my personal life and classroom content. I was able to see the potential for social studies education to empower students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities. All of my decisions following this experience have been made to fulfill my end goal of becoming a secondary social studies teacher. I chose to attend Ƶ Boulder's Teaching Licensure program due to its focus on bridging the gap between school settings and local communities. When students are able to bring their experiences and passions in the classroom space, learning inherently becomes more student-driven and impactful. The past four years have enabled me to experience a variety of social studies classroom settings throughout Boulder and have solidified my love of teaching. I am currently finishing my student teaching experience at Casey Middle School in Boulder, Colorado, and I cannot wait to see what the next chapter holds."
What is one of the most significant lessons from your time at Ƶ Boulder that you’ll carry with you into the next chapter of your life?
One of the most significant lessons from my time at Ƶ Boulder that I will carry with me into the next chapter of my life is that good things take time. Especially throughout college, it's easy to feel rushed and forced to move quickly to finish everything you can. I've learned that it's important to be intentional with my time and that it's okay to spend extra time to produce high quality work. It's hard not to compare yourself to others, but college is the best time to forge your own path and find what works for you. College is full of setbacks and achievements, so recognizing that each step of your journey will take however much time as it takes will give you the peace of mind and persistence to keep moving forward."
What does graduating from Ƶ Boulder represent for you or your family/community?
Graduating from Ƶ Boulder represents a long-held dream of becoming an active changemaker in my community. While I knew that I wanted to be a teacher for years before my senior year of high school, it was difficult for me to find a university setting that upheld my core values. The Ƶ Boulder School of Education is different from any other secondary licensure program that I have come across. In this program, we go far beyond simply learning how to teach. Ƶ teachers are poised to become real agents for progress in their schools, communities and the education system as a whole. The skills and knowledge that I have developed throughout my time at Ƶ have prepared me to be a teacher who empowers her students to think critically about our world and work to advance our communities for the better."
What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?
Take time for yourself! Teachers are individuals who give everything they have for their students and their communities, but it's important to recognize that we can't bring our best selves to the table if we're not taking care of ourselves. Learning to balance work life and home life starts in college and developing the skills to draw boundaries is vital. I know I'm biased, but I argue that teaching is one of the most important roles that you can fill for your community. We need teachers who know how to intentionally take time for themselves so they can continue to love to show up for their students for years to come."
What are your next steps after graduation?
This fall, I have accepted a Social Studies Teaching position in Thornton, Colorado. I will be teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies at Explore PK-8. I am excited to be taking on a classroom of my own and have the privilege to work with a new group of students!"