The Presidential Award award uplifts the teaching profession and recognizes how mathematics and science teachers guide the next generation of innovators. I am honored to be considered for this award. This award reflects the supportive families, communities, and school systems and the enthusiastic students and colleagues with whom I’ve been privileged to work. It will support me in my work to create equitable opportunities for students to access and make meaningful connections with mathematics.

Emily Burrell Reston, VA | 7-12, Mathematics, 2023

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Emily Burrell has been an educator for 23 years and spent the last 10 years teaching 9th-12th grade mathematics at South Lakes High School. She currently teaches Algebra, Functions and Data Analysis; Algebra II; and International Baccalaureate Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation Year One. She previously taught at Wakefield High School for 11 years and at Fairfax High School for two years. Emily’s work as the Equity Co-Lead Teacher extends her influence beyond the classroom. She is dedicated to building strength in students’ voices, providing opportunities for students to share their perspectives, and developing structures to use these student assets to remove barriers and create educational opportunities that serve student needs. In the classroom, Emily works to build student self-confidence and agency through collaborative learning, including "Building Thinking Classrooms" among other structures. In her Algebra, Functions and Data Analysis class, she works with students who have been marginalized by traditional curriculum and provides opportunities for students to learn through real-world applications and project-based assessments. Emily has presented sessions at local and state conferences. Topics of her presentations include “Building Community Through Collaborative Learning” and “Building Mathematical Identity Through Open Ended Projects.” Emily has published in Virginia Mathematics Teacher and Education Week. She is a recipient of the 2023 TODOS Susie Hakansson Teacher Award. Emily earned a B.A. in mathematics from the University of Virginia and an M.Ed. in secondary mathematics from George Mason University. She recently earned a master’s certificate in education policy from George Mason University. She is a certified 6-12 mathematics teacher.

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