Emma’s Story

Emma Vierheller considers herself fortunate to have had excellent teachers throughout her K-12 education.  In particular, she was profoundly influenced by her mathematics teachers.  “I was able to watch them make connections with students who otherwise would have been forgotten and disregarded.”  In college, Emma explored political science with the idea of focusing on education policy but felt dissatisfied with the pace of progress nationally.  A track and field athlete in high school and college, she had begun to coach the sport.  “As a coach, I began to internalize that the impact on a student is immediate, but can last years.”  She was drawn to mathematics because of “my own love for the subject and the clear frustration my peers had towards math.”

Emma graduated with a BS in mathematics and a BA in political science from Marietta College. Active as a student leader, she coordinated campus drives for a local women’s shelter and raised money for food insecurity. Emma interned at the Campus Martius and Ohio River Museums in Marietta, Ohio, where she matched exhibits and activities to the Ohio Social Studies Content Standards. She also volunteered with Bridges to Community in Nicaragua, an organization that assists with sustainable development projects in that country. She later earned an M.Ed. in educational leadership from Marquette University.

Emma began her career in 2012 at HOPE Christian High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she taught and served as an instructional coach. She transitioned to Penta Career Center in 2017. In addition to teaching mathematics and engineering, Emma is involved in creating a manufacturing academy that will allow sophomore students to earn mathematics credit while exploring welding, robotics, CAD, and machining. Emma also serves as co-chair of the Student Assessment Focus Team, where she studies assessment policies and provides professional development around mastery grading/standards-based grading. 

Emma resides in Toledo, Ohio, with her partner. In her spare time, she enjoys running marathons.