By Marissa Sweatland
InkFreeNews
WINONA LAKE — Emily Campbell is a lifelong Warsaw resident. She moved away briefly to attend Ball State University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science education. But since her return, she has solidified herself as a rock in the Warsaw Community School system.
“This year was my seventh year with the Warsaw Area Career Center,” Campbell explained. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of connecting with students on a personal level. Understanding their backgrounds and aspirations helps me tailor the educational experience to better suit their needs. Being able to personally connect with my students has always been incredibly rewarding.”
Campbell has been responsible for teaching a variety of classes within Family and Consumer Sciences at Warsaw Community High School, such as nutrition and wellness, advanced nutrition, sports nutrition and preparing for college and careers. Recently, Campbell was selected as the new WACC assistant director.
“As the assistant director of the career center, my role shifts from classroom teaching to the broader administrative responsibilities within the WACC,” Campbell mentioned. “While I’ll miss the direct classroom interaction, this position enables me to impact our educational community on a larger scale, advocating for our students, staff and programs.”
Campbell did not initially study education in college. She began her studies in nutrition and dietetics, but she felt lost and unfulfilled. She decided to reach out to one of her high school teachers, Sandy Carmichael, for advice and guidance.
“At first, I had reservations, but after observing her in the classroom, I realized that I loved it and was reminded of the impact a dedicated teacher can have.” Campbell said. “To this day, Sandy Carmichael is one of my biggest inspirations and greatest mentors.”
Campbell looks to her new duties with great excitement. In her education career, she has dedicated herself to supporting her students, providing real-life application of the knowledge and skills learned in class, but also acting as a helping hand for students who need extra guidance and advice.
In her new administration role, she will continue to work to improve the lives and education of students by “advocating for CTE programs at the WACC and ensuring they stay at the forefront of educational excellence and relevance, making sure our programs meet industry standards and increasing practical learning opportunities for our students.”
She added, “It’s important to me that students see the relevance of what they are learning in their everyday lives and future careers,” Campbell explained. “And I want our students to walk away, like I did, feeling inspired and equipped with the knowledge and skills to pursue their dreams.”
Campbell’s passion and love for her students and their success has helped cement her into the hearts of many of her students, just as Carmichael did to Campbell all those years ago.
