Title: Founder and President
Company: Future Teaching Institute
Location: Washington, D.C., United States
C. Emily Feistritzer, PhD, Founder and President at the Future Teaching Institute, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Education.
Dr. Feistritzer, a visionary in the field of education, has dedicated her life to transforming teacher preparation and empowering educators worldwide. Born and raised in rural Kentucky, she hails from a lineage of educators, with her mother, grandmother, and aunt serving as schoolhouse teachers in Moreland, Kentucky. This rich heritage laid the foundation for Dr. Feistritzer’s lifelong commitment to education, inspiring her to follow in their footsteps by securing a career that provides her with a sense of satisfaction that has lasted decades.
Having begun her career in 1960, Dr. Feistritzer was a high school science and mathematics teacher, a role she embraced immediately after college. Her academic achievements propelled her into higher education roles, including assistant professor of education at the University of South Carolina from 1973 to 1976. She also excelled as the director of the Teacher Core on campus until 1976. Dr. Feistritzer’s expertise was further recognized when she became a senior consultant for the U.S. Department of Education from 1977 to 1978.
In 1979, Dr. Feistritzer embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by founding the National Center for Education Information and Feistritzer Publications. These ventures marked the beginning of her innovative approach to teacher certification and the dissemination of information. Dr. Feistritzer’s work culminated in the creation of TeachNow Inc., an international online teacher preparation program launched in 2011 at age 70. The program’s success led to the establishment of Moreland University, named after her Kentucky roots.
Dr. Feistritzer’s entrepreneurial spirit continued with the founding of the Future Teaching Institute in 2021 in Washington, D.C., following the sale of TeachNow for $52 million. The nonprofit institute focuses on global initiatives to support aspiring teachers, including building a comprehensive database and creating scholarship programs for participants of TeachNow programs. The company relies on data science and artificial intelligence in what is becoming a new age in education. Dr. Feistritzer also founded TeacherSpeak in 2024, which she led until 2025.
In preparation for her future, Dr. Feistritzer earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry and mathematics from Thomas More College of Liberal Arts. Her passion for teaching led her to pursue further education, earning a master’s degree in physics and mathematics education from the College of William & Mary and a Doctor of Philosophy in curriculum and instruction from Indiana University of Bloomington in 1973.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Feistritzer is an active member of the American Association of University Women. She is also an accomplished author, having penned “Alternative Routes to Teacher,” published by Prentice Hall in 2007, along with several newsletters, including White House Weekly and Department of Education Weekly.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Feistritzer has been recognized with various awards, including being named one of Inc. Magazine’s Top Ten Groundbreakers in their Female Founders 100 list in 2019.
Committed to inspiring others through her conviction that dreams can become a reality with determination and action, Dr. Feistritzer encourages individuals to recognize their potential to create meaningful change, regardless of age or economic status. She also emphasizes the importance of self-belief and understanding one’s significance in contributing to a better world. Dr. Feistritzer’s legacy continues to inspire educators and dreamers alike to pursue their aspirations with unwavering confidence.
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