Emmett Burnton is finishing his ninth year teaching at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Arizona. He currently teaches 10th grade Advanced Placement world history and 11th grade dual enrollment United States history. He received his Bachelor of Science in secondary education-history from Northern Arizona University, and his Master of Arts in history at Arizona State University.  

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 the Anime Club and the Culture Club. He is the co-level lead of the Advanced Placement professional learning community for history and was the world history level lead for six years. In 2017, Burnton was nominated for the Deer Valley Rookie of the Year Award and in 2024 was named Deer Valley Education Foundation Teacher of the Year.  

As a student, he went from suspensions, fighting and being labeled as academically troubled to now helping the next generation channel their energy into a positive medium, making sure students of all backgrounds and levels learn how to take ownership of themselves. When he isn’t working alongside students, he spends his time at local conventions, watching hundreds of movies per year and reading. He is grateful for all the support his family, colleagues and teachers gave him, even when they would have rather kicked him out of school.