Emily Wark is a proud Canadian-American who spent her early childhood in Toronto, Ontario before moving to the Philadelphia area during elementary school. Inspired by her own teachers as a student, she went on to earn a degree in Child Development from Tufts University.
Her teaching journey began in a Head Start classroom in Washington, DC, and continued with the KIPP Charter School Network in DC and New York City, where she served as both a classroom teacher and instructional coach.
After her family relocated from Brooklyn to Ann Arbor in 2017, she completed a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Michigan and began her AAPS career as an intern at Eberwhite Elementary. She says she feels fortunate that she has served asses Building Literacy Coach at Abbot Elementary ever since.
Melissa Schmidt, Building Literacy Coach at Lakewood Elementary, notes that Wark has served in several leadership roles within the AAPS BLC team, and that what sets her apart is her unwavering focus on equity and teacher efficacy.
“Everything she touches helps our team grow and move forward together,” says Schmidt. “She consistently keeps access and equity at the forefront, whether she’s creating digital resources that help students build literacy skills at home or volunteering her time at Peace Neighborhood Center.”
“When it comes to supporting teachers, Emily leads with belief and purpose. She centers her work on teacher efficacy, honoring the unique strengths each educator brings to their classroom. Emily’s work reflects her deep belief that every teacher can make a powerful, positive impact on students’ lives.”
Abbot Principal Stephan Hogan agrees that Wark is a passionate advocate for teachers.
“She works hard to ensure teachers have the resources and knowledge needed to put their students in the best possible position for success,” he says.
What led you to pursue a career in education, and specifically in literacy?
My studies at Tufts inspired me to pursue teaching, and from there, I developed a passion for literacy, especially how students first learn to read and write. I taught Kindergarten for many years in DC and NYC, where I realized how essential the early years of school can be in shaping a student’s identity as a learner. All of this was solidified when I had my first baby and saw the joy that early literacy experiences brought to her ever-expanding world.
What does a typical day look like for you as a Building Literacy Coach?
You can usually find me connecting with teachers. The Abbot team is very collaborative, and I will often start my day co-planning with a classroom teacher who has graciously agreed to meet before students arrive. Right now, we are working hard to implement our new ELA curriculum, Arts & Letters! The rest of the day is spent in PLC meetings with grade teams and co-teaching Arts & Letters lessons. I love getting into classrooms and supporting the wonderful work that teachers are doing with this new tool. Getting to know ALL of our Abbot All Stars as literacy learners has been a huge highlight of the year thus far.
Can you describe a recent breakthrough moment you witnessed with a student?
Seeing our students connect with new content knowledge that they are gaining from Arts & Letters has felt joyful! I feel inspired by the way students are discussing literature and sharing their ideas through writing. Most recently, I was surprised to see their excitement and curiosity when I was dropping off new materials. They were all so eager to see what our new books would be. Fourth graders were amazed by the size of The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
What do you like about working at AAPS, and specifically at Abbot?
Abbot is a special place, with special people. Our team is collaborative and student-focused. We also seek opportunities to share joy together. I get to share my office with incredible colleagues who support my passions for literacy and help me see other aspects of the big picture of a school experience for our students. Teachers at Abbot have a wonderful sense of humor, patience, and open mind. This will be my eighth year as BLC, and I continue to improve at my job because I am motivated by a team of teachers who seek growth for themselves and their students.
What’s the most rewarding part of being a literacy coach versus being in the classroom?
I love getting to know so many students at Abbot and the different strengths that they bring to their classrooms. For classroom teachers, I love being a collaborator. Classroom teaching can feel isolating. I hope that when I work with teachers, they feel like they have a partner who sees all of the amazing things that they are doing to support their students.
What do you like to read for pleasure?
I spend a lot of time reading children’s books! The current favorites in our household include: The Hunger Games, Dory Fantasmagory, Hilo, Bathe the Cat, and Fann Club: Batman Squad.
When it comes to adult literature, I love novels. I just finished Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who is one of my favorite authors.
What do you enjoy doing outside of school to recharge and relax?
My husband inspired me to get a bike this year, and I am hooked! I ride to work and really enjoy it. The morning ride with my family is a real highlight of the day, as long as no one bumps into a car and we aren’t running too late for school drop off!
What’s most exciting about your personal life right now? Your professional life?
My kids—Cleo, James & Winnie—are all in the same school for the first time! It’s been such a joy to watch my youngest start kindergarten with confidence, thanks to the incredible support of her older siblings. There has also been a wonderful crossover between my professional and personal life, as all of my kids learn from Arts & Letters in their classrooms. We can talk about books we are enjoying and topics that we are learning about in a way that warms my teacher heart.
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