Meet Dr. Emily Feistritzer: Forward Thinker and Moreland University Founder 

A Family of Teachers 

Dr. Emily Feistritzer has a career trajectory that is both remarkable and varied, but she centers her work around two things: recognizing and respecting teachers and ensuring they have the tools they need to create the most effective classrooms.  

A third-generation educator, her mother, grandmother, and maternal aunt were all teachers. You could say teaching was in her blood, as she describes, having been immersed in the environment from a very young age. Upon completing high school, she pursued a life as a nun, dedicating herself to teaching math and science at a nearby Benedictine high school.  

She credits the nunnery with teaching her discipline and focus, skills that have served her well as she later published a textbook, went on to attain both master’s and doctoral degrees, and spend decades of her life collecting and publishing data on the field of education.  

A Philosophy for the Modern World 

Watching her mother and grandmother teach, Emily recognized not only the importance of dedicated educators but also how the classroom requires change to adapt to new technology and new generations of students.  

By recognizing education as an evolving field, she encourages educators and administrators to utilize new and valuable resources, like technology, rather than fear change. Successful educators also continuously evaluate what the future of education should look like and recognize how best to fill their roles. She reminisces that teachers of yesterday were considered “knowledge dispensers,” or individuals with an encompassing expertise that would answer questions and share what they knew with their students.  

With the emergence of technology, online learning, and an increasingly global world, Dr. Feistritzer sees today’s teachers as “facilitators of learning.” Their job is to serve as guides and inspirations for their students, teaching them to be curious, know where to look for new information, and feel empowered and capable both in and outside the classroom.   

Emily emphasized that educators need to be resource-rich problem solvers. But she observed that existing certification programs didn’t offer candidates the flexibility and modern approach that they needed. She recognized that candidates needed hands-on and relevant coursework, a collaborative environment that encouraged personal growth and curiosity, and ways to apply their knowledge effectively withing their classrooms. Thus, the impetus for Moreland University. 

Moreland’s Beginnings 

Emily founded the TEACH-NOW® Teacher Preparation Certificate program in 2011 to help candidates achieve the experience they needed to become capable and confident educators.  

By 2013, the program adopted the cohort model to encourage that collaborative environment and grow the program’s global reach. Educators from all over the world could work together to find innovative solutions for their classrooms and learn from one another.  

In 2016, TEACH-NOW added an option to pursue a master’s degree in education. 

The year 2020 offered an opportunity for the company to rebrand. Named for the one-room schoolhouse where her mother and grandmother taught in Moreland, Kentucky, TEACH-NOW became Moreland University. 

Moreland University: Today and Tomorrow 

Now partnered with the professional learning company The Colibri Group, Moreland University has expanded its programs to more candidates than ever. Serving 8,000+ candidates in over 165 countries, Moreland continues to connect communities of educators around the world.  

Emily’s goals to respect and encourage educators and harness change to create effective learning environments reaches more classrooms than she could have imagined. Moreland University continues to be a thought leader for aspiring educators, stemming from Emily’s decades of research and experience in the field and commitment to education. 

Ready for More? 

Watch this interview to hear Dr. Feistritzer discuss Moreland’s global focus, the cohort model, the infrastructure of the modern education system, and more. You can also request information to learn more about Moreland’s offerings or apply today.