Emily Volence
Emily grew up outside of Chicago, IL in nearby Evanston, but, in the middle of her eighth grade school year, her family moved to Wynnewood, PA for her dad’s job. The family move precipitated her attending The Pennsylvania State University where she earned her BS in English Education and a minor in Communications. In her senior year at Penn State, she gained valuable experience at her student teaching placement in the city of Pittsburgh. Upon graduating, she began her teaching career with the Wilson School District outside of Reading, PA; there, she taught high school English to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who encountered previous academic difficulty. While working, planning high school prom, and planning her own wedding to her college sweetheart, John, she began her Master’s coursework at Kutztown University with the goal of earning a Reading Specialist degree. Once her degree was complete, she applied for another job in the same district, a middle school reading position. For the remainder of her twelve year career, while balancing parenthood, she taught 6th and 8th graders reading strategies to improve future outcomes in school and in life. Reading is her passion.
After having two children, Emily made the difficult decision to pause her career and relocate her growing family to Horsham, PA, which was closer to her husband’s engineering job in Ambler. She is now the proud mom of three – Logan, age 11; Jack, age 8; and Nora, age 2. She felt so welcomed by the Hatboro-Horsham community and has built a village for her kids. Her current “activities” are driving her kids to their activities, while still trying to plan fun outings for herself, her husband, and her friends. Emily met the Seeds of Joy family when she attended play group with Nora and began teaching at Seeds of Joy the following year, where she hopes to model how reading can be fun. She hopes to help her students find their joy by developing a positive first relationship with school, which aligns with SOJ’s promise to its students