2025 Teacher of the Year Emmett Burnton
Emmett Burnton (History BSED ‘15) was named Arizona’s Teacher of the Year award for 2025. For the past nine years, he has taught AP World History and U.S. History Dual Enrollment at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem. Burnton earned his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in History from NAU and his Master of Arts in History from ASU. Burnton is the Founder of Duel of Fates, a local business built upon redefining how students study the world history curriculum. He is the co-level lead of the Advanced Placement professional learning community for history and was the world history level lead for six years. In 2017 Burnton was nominated for the Deer Valley Rookie of the Year Award and in 2024 was awarded the title Deer Valley Education Foundation Teacher of the Year. As a student, he went from suspensions, fighting, and being labeled as academically troubled to helping the next generation channel their energy into a positive medium, ensuring students of all backgrounds and levels learn how to take ownership of themselves. Here is his story in his own words:
Q: What has life looked like for you since graduation from NAU?
A: After graduating in Spring 2015, I started as a substitute in the Deer Valley School District. I had done my student teaching in economics instead of history, which, along with teaching seniors at 21, discouraged me from teaching right away. I thought subbing would be a smoother transition, but soon I was offered a long-term substitute position. Boulder Creek had a teacher break contract, and since I was already in the system with a history degree, I jumped in by quarter two of 2015.
By my second year at Boulder Creek, I was the level lead of the World History department and helped lead our tech initiative for iPads. By 2019, I took over the AP curriculum, growing enrollment from 40 to over 100 students every year. In 2021-2022, I completed my master’s in history from ASU, applying what I learned in my classroom. While working on my master’s, I also started a company that turned the world history curriculum into a card game for students to review through gamification. Now, I’m expanding my reach by earning my gifted certification. Nearly every year, I’ve been juggling a new project since leaving NAU!
Q: What has your teaching experience been like, and what are some of the big gains you had while here at NAU that have helped in your post-graduation life?
A: NAU set the foundation for everything I do in the classroom. I wouldn’t be the teacher I am today without the guidance of the history and education departments. The professors helped me find creative ways to engage with my peers, which I reflect on in my teaching as I adjust the AP curriculum to be more inclusive for all levels of students.
A few years into my career, we were asked to adjust to a more PLC-driven/skills-based approach to teaching history. I had to revise nearly every assignment I’d developed, which was made easier by the curriculum-building skills I learned at NAU. The collaborative work I did at NAU also prepared me to work well with my team at school, helping me collaborate with coworkers from different backgrounds toward the same goal.
Q: How do you feel about having won?
A: It’s absolutely unreal. I’m sure some professors are thrilled, while others might be thinking, “Emmett?! Are you sure?” Being a student who struggled in high school and college, winning Teacher of the Year is an honor. My goal moving forward is to shine a light on the incredible work teachers around the state are doing. Winning feels like an opportunity to elevate the voices of my coworkers and others who work hard to make education happen. I also feel like I owe an apology to all the teachers I made miserable, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there!
