Feature Stories
Emily Miller '14
Emily Miller, ’14, is an elementary art teacher at Rockford Public Schools in Rockford, Michigan. She teaches art to students in developmental kindergarten through fifth grade and has done so for five years.
Miller received her bachelor’s degree in art education with a minor in art history and certification in elementary education from Grand Valley State University in 2014. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in elementary education at Grand Valley.
As an elementary art teacher, Miller weekly teaches 700 individual students. She creates lessons that incorporate art history and align with her school’s curriculum, manages her classroom, and sets up a safe classroom environment.
At Rockford Public Schools, Miller is a member of the School Improvement and the Positive Behaviors in Schools Committees. She is also a Teacher Supervisor for her school’s Student Council and Green Team.
Miller also teaches art at the Rising Star Summer Camp for students with learning disabilities. Furthermore, she chairs the committee for Youth Arts for the annual Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids, MI.
Additionally, Miller dedicates her time and passion to her alma mater by regularly volunteering at or attending Alumni Association events, making charitable contributions to Grand Valley, and being a steward of the university for future and current students and alumni. She is the co-president of Grand Valley’s College of Education Alumni Association, as well as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
In recognition of all that she does for Grand Valley, Miller received the Alumni Service Award in 2019. The honor is awarded to an alumnus or alumna who demonstrates outstanding service to the university and the Alumni Association. The awardee is selected by the GVSU Alumni Relations staff and the award is presented at the annual Volunteer Celebration in May.
Miller lives in Grand Rapids with her husband Rory and their three cats, Elpheba, Hemingway, and Jasper.
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