Emma Rice

Where do you attend school, and what what are you studying?

I graduated summa cum laude from Kenyon College with a major in English and minors in Spanish and Art History. My senior capstone in English, "'Amphibious:' Analyzing the Legacy of Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse in Sandra Cisneros’ 'Never Marry a Mexican,'" received distinction. I am also a proud member of Phi Beta Kappa.

I lived in England for a year as I studied abroad, a year focused on English theater and landscapes. I frequented both London and hiking trails in search of writing fodder: culture, history, and mythology.

Simultaneously, I completed my Teaching Licensure for Adolescent to Young Adult Integrated Language Arts through Capital University. I enjoyed student teaching locally at Herndon High School.

What have your teaching opportunities been outside of Fairfax Collegiate?

At Kenyon, I led ¡Hola! Tutoring, a tutoring program that served Spanish speakers of all ages in rural Ohio. I also worked at the Kenyon College Writing & Study Skills Center as a writing tutor. Back home in Northern Virginia, I completed my student teaching at Herndon High School as an English 10 teacher. These three teaching experiences were wildly different and shaped me as an educator today.

What subjects have you taught with Fairfax Collegiate in the past?

I taught with Fairfax Collegiate during the 2024 Summer. I taught primarily reading and writing classes, including Reading for Meaning 7-9, Writers' Workshop 7-9, Writing for High School 7-9 and Academic Writing 9-12. I also taught a 7-9 debate class.

What sort of experience have you had in the subject you’ll be teaching this summer?

I have taken classes like "Texting: Reading Like an English Major" and "Writing Center Colloquium" that have made me a better essay writer and analyst of literature. Classes like "Restoration and Early 18th Century Literature" as well as "Theories and Practices of Life Writing" filled out my English curriculum. At the University of Exeter, classes like "Migration, Literature, and Culture" and "Surrealism and Its Legacies" reshaped the way that I study the world through literature.

Extracurricularly, I also served as an assistant arts editor at the Kenyon Collegian, our student-run newspaper. I spent last summer adapting the Jane Austen novel, "Emma," into a play that was performed at Bishop Ireton High School in the fall.

What excites you about teaching and working with students?

What excites me most about teaching and working with students is the opportunity to build meaningful connections that help students grow both academically and personally. My philosophy of education is rooted in connection, respect, and growth. I believe the classroom should be equally challenging and supportive: a place where students feel safe to develop their writing voices. As a teacher, I aim to provide individualized feedback, focus on improvement rather than comparison, and support students through challenge. I am excited to help students become well-rounded, open-minded, and critical thinkers by encouraging them to engage deeply with ideas and reflect on their place in the world.

I especially enjoy creating engaging lessons that connect with students’ interests and learning styles. Whether through discussion, writing, visual activities, or creative projects, I want every student to feel that there is a way for them to connect with literature and with one another. I am excited to watch students gain confidence in expressing their opinions, taking intellectual risks, and discovering new perspectives through literature and writing. Ultimately, what excites me most is the chance to help students recognize their own importance to the world and that they are capable of meaningful growth as learners and as people.

Outside of work, what are some hobbies you enjoy?

I have worked as an usher at Signature Theatre for more than three years now. I love theater. Being able to see all of the wonderful plays and musicals multiple times as an exercise in understanding storytelling is such a treat.

Also, I love traveling and documenting my travels in a scrapbook. I am always down to explore new museums, landscapes, and independent bookstores. In my own time, I read and write voraciously.