Emmy Adams | Specialist Teacher

Kia ora koutou Shotover community!

My name is Emmy Adams and it's my honor to be the Specialist Teacher at Shotover Primary School. This means I have the honour of supporting our ORS students with a range of disabilities to access their learning environment and be included with their peers.

I have been part of the disability community my whole life as a friend and family member of people with disabilities, so celebrating and creating an inclusive world isn't just what I do, it is who I am at my core.

At 14 years old I became a student aid in the Special Education classroom at my high school and from that moment on I knew I wanted to teach students with disabilities.

I began my career working in respite care for nearly 10 years, giving families of kids with disabilities a break before going on to get my degree in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado.

I started my teaching career working as a Special Education teacher to students with high behavior needs at a primary school in Colorado before beginning the journey to get my teaching license recognized in Aotearoa New Zealand.

I am a Kiwi-American, born in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and moved between there and Colorado my whole life. I started coming to Queenstown in 2021 and worked four winter seasons teaching in the ski kindy Skiwiland on Coronet Peak as well as volunteering with the Adaptive Snow Program supporting people with disabilities to access the snow.

In Term 4 of 2024, I found Shotover and was blown away by what an inclusive school it is and took on the role of Specialist Teacher. I am very passionate about continuing to make Shotover a place where ALL students feel they belong and ALL minds are celebrated.

I am also very passionate about kaitiakitanga (sustainability) and help run the Enviro Club at our kura.

Aside from teaching, a few other things I love are: volunteering in the community, travel, exploring nature and listening to music.

I am so excited to be at Shotover and to learn and grow with you all!

Mai i te kōpae ki te urupa, tātou ako tonu ai.
From the cradle to the grave, we are forever learning.