Emily Acosta Thompson is an accomplished educator bringing unparalleled experience to the Hawking Board. She attended San Diego State and Moorhead State for her undergraduate studies, Graduate Studies at University of Minnesota and Harvard Graduate School of Education.  During her career, she served as an elementary principal in St. Paul, MN at Jackson Preparatory Magnet School, Como Park Elementary School, Adams Spanish Immersion Magnet, Zanewood Community School and Oakview Elementary School, and her last administrative stint in Chula Vista, CA at Karl H. Kellogg Elementary School. Her role as principal totals over 15 years of administrative experience coupled with serving as Intern-Interim Deputy Superintendent. Some of her other educational experience includes music, ESL, and GATE teacher. She served as Director of Educational Outreach in Masters of Education and Teaching Licensure Program for United States University in Chula Vista. Emily also served as Assessment Administrator for NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) collecting data to aid educators and legislators in 4th, 8th, and 12th grade public & non-public schools.  This work falls under the National Center for Educational Statistics of the US Department of Education. Mrs. Thompson hosted the NEA2004 Bus Tour for “Schools that Beat the Odds” in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and consulted in “Urban Learner Framework”, for the 3rd annual Rev. Martin Luther King Lecture Series on Race & Reconciliation in Education. Other accolades include being a Governor Pawlenty Board Appointee to MAEF (Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation) as Educational Representative, presented Blue Ribbon Schools Awards on behalf of MAEP to Minnesota Schools, Governor Pawlenty Appointee to State of Minnesota-Department of Human Services- Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, an Educational Book Writer, and Classical violinist.