Experience in the real world enriches the classroom. This claim is not only central to the Academies of Louisville, but it is also the professional story of Emily Wirtzberger. Entering her third year as Seneca High School’s Academy Coach, Mrs. Wirtzberger continues to creatively combine her legal experience with her educational passion to champion student success.

From the Courthouse to Waffle House

After graduating from Male High School, Mrs. Wirtzberger pursued a career as an attorney. After a few years of legal work, she realized that she loved the study of law more than its practice. This realization drove her back to her true professional love–education, so she made the professional jump and started subbing in various schools in JCPS.

Amidst her time as a substitute teacher, her family decided to celebrate Mother’s Day at Waffle House. Their decision to skip a restaurant with a long wait would have long-term implications, as she happened to run into an instructional assistant from Seneca High School, who told her about an open pre-law teaching position. She applied for the position and after being hired, worked to become a certified teacher.

In the Classroom

For nearly a decade, Mrs. Wirtzberger taught in the pre-law program at Seneca, even collaborating with other attorneys in Frankfort to develop high school standards for pre-law education in Kentucky. While she shared her passion for studying law with her students every year, the COVID-19 pandemic created an opportunity to pair students with businesses in new and creative ways. As she puts it, "Covid forced me to realize how simple it is to connect to the real world." Taking initiative, she organized virtual lunch-and-learn sessions with business partners, with dozens of students taking their lunch hour to participate in each session. Continuing her connection to the legal field, Mrs. Wirtzberger also coordinated a mentorship program with local law firm Frost Brown Todd.

An Academy Coach’s Example

When the position became open at Seneca, Emily’s transition to an Academy Coach in the Academies of Louisville was a natural progression. Her responsibilities as an Academy Coach fall into three main categories: supporting business partners, ensuring work-based learning experiences, and coordinating the Academies model within the school. As she says, she thrives on “helping our students understand that what they do matters and preparing them to be ready when they step out the door.”

Mrs. Wirtzberger’s life story is a model of the Academies’ mission: to bridge the gap between the educational and professional worlds. Her journey from the legal profession to education exemplifies how professionals can bring valuable real-world insights into the classroom, enriching the educational experience for all students. She understands the importance of connecting classroom learning with career pathways, which is a core principle of the Academies model. As she puts it, the Academies “weave career themes throughout all classes.”

Impactful Initiatives

Under Mrs. Wirtzberger's guidance, the Academies at Seneca High School have seen significant successes. One notable example is the partnership with Keller Williams, a real estate business that funded a 96-hour course for students to become realtors. This initiative allowed students like Yasmin Johnston to gain professional certifications even before graduating high school. Mrs. Wirtzberger observed, “Students were reading a contract like it’s the most exciting thing in the world because it mattered to them.” Her efforts to bring in diverse business partners prepare Seneca students for the real world. As she says, “Our world is diverse. That’s the world we’re trying to prepare them for.” This past year she organized Careerpalooza, where she brought in panels of about a hundred professionals to speak to freshmen about the career pathways available to them.

The AgriScience and Leadership Academy is another standout initiative. As Mrs. Wirtzberger humorously noted, this is “not Old MacDonald had a farm!” The program aims to broaden students' understanding of agriculture beyond traditional farming roles, incorporating technology and engineering. In addition to a chicken run and greenhouse, the Academy hopes to expand to include a student-run hydroponic garden in the cafeteria, a barn, and an Ag Power lab with a new building in the next five years. The Ag Power pathway includes essential skills for agriculture, such as welding and electrical work, ensuring students are well-prepared for diverse careers in the field.

A Vision for the Future

Emily Wirtzberger's dedication to her role as Academy Coach is driven by her belief that “everybody can succeed,” but she is quick to admit that this is not a solo effort. She is proud of the collaborative environment within the Academies Coaches group and the support from the Seneca principal Mike Guy, which empowers her to innovate and make a difference. Furthermore, she is glad to report, "JCPS has fully invested in the Academies model” and will happily tell even her Uber driver about the significance of the Academies.

"So much of teaching is about building relationships,” notes Mrs. Wirtzberger, and the whole Seneca community is all the better because an instructional assistant happened upon this former attorney in a Waffle House. She has already propelled hundreds of students to success, and as the new school year approaches, she is ready to continue as their advocate once again.

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