2025 Arizona Teacher of the Year announced

The Arizona Educational Foundation recently announced Emmett Burnton from Boulder Creek High School in the Deer Valley Unified School District as the 2025 Arizona Teacher of the Year. Burnton joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss this prestigious award.

Burnton is in his 9th year of teaching AP World History and U.S. History Dual Enrollment at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem.

Burnton received his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (History) from Northern Arizona University. He went on to graduate school at Arizona State University, where he received his Master of Arts (History).

When he was asked what makes a good history teacher, Burnton said, “I think today it’s not shying away from what’s going on around them. We talk about wanting to make these kids enter the workforce and enter the real world, and in order to do that, you kinda have to show them what’s going on, and how can they navigate what’s going on.”

“These historical figures aren’t just people from before,” Burnton said, “They’re people just like me, and they have those insecurities and those values. Once they see that, they can kinda engage in the new world.”

Burnton didn’t anticipate becoming a teacher until he got to college and found his true calling.

Burnton is the founder of Duel of Fates, a local business built upon redefining how students study the world history curriculum.

At Boulder Creek, Burnton sponsors multiple clubs including the Anime Club and the Culture Club. He is also the co-level lead of the Advanced Placement professional learning community for history and was the world history level lead for six years.