Elementary School Special Education Teacher in Marietta, GA
A.L. Burruss Elementary School
2025-26 Fellow: Ms. Ely has been teaching for fourteen years. She first became interested in the Pilot Light Fellowship when she observed the program’s impact on students of all backgrounds firsthand at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park. She looks forward to gaining a deeper appreciation for food, agriculture, and sustainability to share with students in the hopes of unlocking their own passion within. At the very least, she would like her students to understand the connectedness of how a meal comes to be during her time as a fellow. Ashley holds a B.S. in Liberal Studies and an M.A. in Special Education with a focus on autism from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Her educational career started with an adventure teaching English to university students in China as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She has also been a classroom and special education teacher in many places but now calls a sweet school in Marietta, Georgia home. She resides there with her husband, two daughters, and a lovable mutt.
Favorite Food Education Standard: FES #1: Food connects us to each other.
The food standard that resonates the most with me is “Food connects us to each other.” Sharing a meal is my favorite way to connect to others. I have lived in a few states and even abroad. Food is universal whether prepared on a coal burning stove in a rural kitchen or Michelin-rated restaurant. It has the power to bridge cultural and language barriers creating lifelong friends from total strangers.
A Favorite Food Memory or Recipe:
My favorite food memories involve spending time in the kitchen assisting and learning about life with the women who molded me — my grandmothers, mother, stepmother, mother-in-law, aunts, and family friends. I thank my mother for inviting me to spend time with her while she cooked, even at a young age. Her recipes are the ones I crave when away from home for too long. Her example is the one I try to follow with my own children.
What I’m Most Excited About as a New Fellow:
I am most excited about the depth of knowledge coming my way as a participant in the Food Education Fellowship. It will give me the tools to bring new purpose to my students while providing hands-on experience, empowering healthy choices, increasing cultural awareness, and highlighting the significance of sustainable agriculture.
