Teacher feature: Diane Burk, Borlaug Elementary

IOWA CITY - After 28 years of teaching, Diane Burk says she's found she most enjoys working with third- and fourth-grade students.

'Kids begin to realize the power that they have to achieve goals themselves, to set a goal and be independent enough to do it on their own (at that age),” the Iowa City Borlaug Elementary teacher said. 'They begin to mature to the point where you can start to see that young adolescent begin to emerge, but they're still super excited to learn.”

The Gazette is featuring Burk as the first in an ongoing series of stories spotlighting educators in the Corridor. To nominate someone to be featured, send an email to Molly Duffy, K-12 education reporter, at molly.duffy@thegazette.com. Please include a bit about the educator and why you think they stand out in their profession.

Here are a few questions we asked Burk, who teaches fourth grade at Borlaug:

Q: What's the funniest thing a student has ever said to you?

A: One of my favorite exchanges was with a second-grade boy as the end of the year approached. He said, 'Mrs. Burk, I will miss you over the summer. Could you come and live with my mom and me?” I explained that 'Mr. Burk might miss me if I moved.” Without missing a beat he replied, 'Oh, he can come and live with me, too. My mom won't mind.”

Q: Name a few things you always have on your desk.

A: One thing I've always had on my desk is a jar with pencil topped erasers. They are free for the taking. I always tell the kids that mistakes are something we make in life, and try to learn from them. Most mistakes in school can be fixed - not always with an eraser, but with someone else's help. All they have to do is ask.

Q: Name a few of your favorite lessons.

A: I love oral literature - reading aloud to my class. Choosing the right books to introduce reluctant readers to can open up their excitement to read those same books on their own.

My favorite subject to teach has always been writing. Writing is such a personal thing - it reveals what kids are interested in, worry about, get excited about or wonder about. Helping fourth-graders 'unlock” their own unique voice through their writing is one of my favorite things. Everyone has something to say, and expressing yourself through writing is sometimes a safer way to share ideas, especially for students who are shy.

Q: When did you discover you were a teacher?

A: I am a teacher in my heart and in my soul. It is my calling. ... I always thought I wanted to teach high school English, but a wise professor sent me into a first- and third-grade classroom early into my training at Cornell College. After a week, I had found where I belonged.

Q: What would you be doing if you weren't a teacher?

A: If I wasn't in the classroom teaching kids, I would be working in my community to support kids and their families. Maybe as a social worker or public health worker.

Q: What's something your students probably don't know about you?

That's hard, because I think they know a lot about me. I'd say they may not know that I think about them even when they are not at school (evenings, weekends, early morning), especially if they are struggling with something.

Q: Who was your favorite teacher when you were a kid?

A: It was a teacher I didn't even have as a classroom teacher. When I was in third grade, my family experienced a tragedy. When I returned to school, Mrs. Graham, a second-grade teacher in my school, went out of her way to open her heart and express her sadness by showing care and concern for me. Looking back, it felt like she was the only teacher in my school who saw me as a person - with unique needs, feelings, and experiences. That is one experience that has stuck with me. ... In my opinion, anyone can pick up a manual, read it and give information to others. But to be a teacher, you have to know your learners first and foremost.

l Comments: (319) 398-8330; molly.duffy@thegazette.com