Sitting at a table with a group of inquisitive first graders, Emily Jordan ’26 uses blocks to bring basic math concepts to life.
The capstone experience for her degree in early childhood education, Jordan’s student teaching placement at Lawrence Ave. Elementary School is preparing her for a meaningful career in the classroom—one built on confidence, preparation, and hands-on learning.
“I’ve never been more confident that I’m ready to step into a classroom and be a teacher. There’s so much field experience—and by that I mean actually being in a classroom. Of course it’s in steps, you don’t just go in and start teaching, you learn the ropes,” she said.
Over the past four years, Jordan has refined her teaching skills through immersive coursework and real-world classroom experience. Beginning with the Bears Literacy Program, she worked one-on-one with local elementary students on campus before continuing into area schools for her Block I and Block II placements—gradually taking on more responsibility with each step.
“It starts your sophomore year with the mentor program through the literacy center. They bus students in and you get to work with them. And then in the classes that we take, we’re learning strategies to use in the classroom— how to teach students effectively, and then you get to apply it when you go into block teaching and student teaching,” she said.
Roots of Education
Jordan’s passion for education began early, rooted in a desire to help others and inspired by her family’s long connection to the profession. Her mother, a first-grade teacher at Lisbon Central School, demonstrated firsthand the lasting impact educators can make.
“Education is in my family. My mom has been teaching for 30 years, and a lot of my aunts and uncles are teachers too,” she said.
When Jordan was a senior in high school, she had the chance to mentor a third-grader who struggled with anxiety about attending school. Working alongside the student on small daily tasks helped build his confidence—and gave Jordan a glimpse into her own future.
“He was just the most amazing little student and I loved spending time with him,” Jordan said. “I remember looking at my mom and being like, ‘I think I want to be a teacher.’ And she was so happy that I had decided that. Working with that student is what shifted everything.”
Choosing Potsdam
Born and raised in Northern New York, less than 30 minutes from SUNY Potsdam, Jordan had long been familiar with the campus. She attended youth soccer programs led by then-head coach Mark Misiak—now the College’s athletic director—and visited campus to watch playoff basketball games at Maxcy Hall and women’s soccer matches on the turf field.
Years later, as she weighed her college options, Misiak invited her to campus for a visit. Touring Satterlee Hall, home of the teacher education program, and connecting with members of the women’s soccer team helped her envision her future at Potsdam.
“There was an abundance of elementary education majors on the team who talked so highly about the teacher education program. I honestly never looked at SUNY Potsdam as a place that I would go until I got on the campus for a visit, and I was like, ‘Wow this place is amazing, and it’s so much more than what you see on the outside,’” she said.
She enrolled in Fall 2022 and quickly found community through both athletics and academics. Several of her teammates were also pursuing degrees in teacher education, creating a built-in support system as they navigated coursework, practices, and student teaching together.
“Being on the soccer team was the best opportunity. You’re essentially living the same life, so you automatically develop friendships. We used to call them forced friendships as a joke, but we’re the best of friends, we do everything together, and I’ll have these friends forever. There were four other girls on the team in my class alone who were elementary education majors, so we would do homework together, go to class together, eat meals together, go to practice. Having those people that you can rely on, who are in the same boat as you, they get it. It’s amazing.
Close to home
Choosing SUNY Potsdam also allowed Jordan to remain close to her family, who supported her throughout her collegiate soccer career. Jordan’s parents attended every soccer game—home and away—including all 16 games her senior year when she served as team captain and earned Academic All-District status for a third consecutive year.
“My parents didn’t miss a single game. Even if it was in NYC, they were there. I’m so thankful for them. They were so supportive. I’m a huge family-oriented person, so deciding to stay local had a lot to do with that as well, and seeing the sea of family at my games was the best,” she said.
In the classroom, professors like Laura Griffin helped her develop the confidence and skills needed to lead energetic groups of young learners. Courses such as Classroom Management and Math Methods left a lasting impression.
“She’s the most warm and welcoming person and she genuinely loves her job—and you can tell—it radiates off her. She was a teacher for many years, and she talks about that experience in such a positive light, it makes me excited to become a teacher,” Jordan said.
Career Preparedness
Now fully immersed in student teaching, Jordan spends each weekday in a first-grade classroom alongside host teacher Amanda Smutz ’11 & ’21, a SUNY Potsdam alumna. The experience allows her to gradually assume full classroom responsibilities while receiving mentorship and feedback.
“I would say Block I is more observation, Block II is slowly taking the lead, and then student teaching is much more fast-paced because you get to be with the kids every single day, so you learn the rules of the classroom much quicker, and you can take over much faster,” she said. “You work alongside a supervisor, so they help you with lesson plans and they come in and observe you, it’s a cool experience.”
Being in the classroom with students every day is a full dress rehearsal for her teaching career. After working with the children on reading and math skills, she engages with them in other ways to support their social development. Whether incorporating current events like the Winter Olympics into lessons or joining students for an impromptu soccer game at recess, Jordan emphasizes connection as an essential part of learning.
“During the winter Olympics we did bobsled races. Mrs. Smutz and I got in these totes and the students pushed us through the hall. That was really cool. Everyday little interactions—a student sees you in the morning and they have a big smile on their face and they give you a hug—it makes it all worth it. And seeing them succeed and grow is really cool too.”
The Future
With commencement on the horizon, Jordan feels prepared for the next step: leading a classroom of her own. She also plans to pursue a master’s degree in ENL (English as a New Language), equipping her to better support multilingual learners.
“I feel like SUNY Potsdam has given me so many opportunities to grow as a person, step into leadership roles, and meet people from all over, and just have the best experiences,” Jordan said. “I never thought that a school 25 minutes away from my hometown was going to be as amazing as it has been—it’s exceeded my expectations.”
Article by Jason Hunter