Prof. Ariel Emby

Words have a particular magic, and I’ve been absorbed by stories all my life. I love working with students to make their words come alive, and I’m thrilled that Athena’s is a place that allows students to be authentically passionate and curious about the world around them: that is what makes for beautiful stories.

I love teaching writing to everyone, but what is particularly fun in teaching gifted kids is that creative writing is often a place where there are no right or wrong answers. For some kids that is thrilling and for others that can be a little scary- in my experience, a lot of gifted kids like to find the “right” answer, and when there isn’t one, it’s a little shocking! I was that kid myself, and when I learned how freeing it could be to write creatively it was really inspiring and liberating for me. I want to provide that for other people.

~ Prof. Ariel

Ariel Emby is an avid reader, writer, and lifelong learner. She was a homeschooled kid herself and discovered early on that there is always more to learn. She studied anthropology and neuroscience as an undergraduate and had the opportunity to write and research a master’s-level thesis on community trauma. She then went on to work with kids in Teach For America after college, get a Masters Degree in Education, and teach in elementary classrooms for five years. She’s a big fan of dogs, a traveler, and a lover of nature and cooking. She’s curious about everything, from how nutrition impacts human health to how fictional worlds can reflect our own. As a teacher, she believes that everyone has a great story inside them and that all learning should be joyful, engaging, and exciting.

Learn more about Prof. Ariel: Coming soon!