Each year, for the past decade, Emily Housley has taught her students life-changing skills. She’s taught them how to be involved in the community, how to use math and chemistry in sewing and cooking, and how to look for leadership opportunities.
This year, thanks to her students, Housley’s efforts have been recognized by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, which named her the 2012-2013 Utah Adviser of the year. As a family and consumer sciences teacher, she has worked as an adviser for the Jordan High chapter of the FCCLA for the last six years, organizing extra-curricular service projects and encouraging her students to become involved with the community. Her students nominated her for the award.
“It makes me feel like what I’m doing is making a difference,” Housley said of her recognition.
The service projects Housley has helped spearhead have also made a difference. This year her students donated lollipops to the Festival of Trees to be sold as a fundraiser for Primary Children’s Hospital. They also sewed and donated quilts to the hospital.
“I really enjoy seeing the students being engaged in the activities we do,” Housley says. “It’s a great thing for students to learn to take a stand, whether it’s in school, or in their neighborhood or in their home.”