MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Two-time Middle Tennessee State University education alumna and STEM elementary teacher Jenna Burke was recently named Tennessee’s Teacher of the Year by the Tennessee Department of Education and will soon move on to the national stage of the competition.

“Each time there has been an announcement, it has felt incredible and dreamlike,” said Burke, a teacher at Sycamore Elementary in Collierville who first earned the accolade at the school and district levels before winning the state title in October. “Like, they can’t be serious. I am just honored to be recognized.”

Neporcha Cone, dean of the College of Education, called the recognition an “extraordinary honor” and a “tremendous source of pride” for the college.

“This recognition is a testament to the passion, dedication and excellence Jenna brings to her profession and the difference she makes in students’ lives,” Cone said. “It also reflects the lasting impact our graduates can have on education across Tennessee. Preparing transformative educators who become ‘Difference Makers’ in their communities is at the heart of our mission, and Jenna exemplifies that commitment.”

Burke, an almost two-decade classroom veteran, completed her MTSU elementary education degree in 2007 and returned to her alma mater to complete her master’s in curriculum and instruction in 2012.

“During my official visit to MTSU as a high school senior, I immediately felt at home,” Burke said. “So, returning to MTSU for my master’s felt like a natural decision. I already carried a strong sense of pride in being a Blue Raider, but I was equally confident that the College of Education would provide the high-quality coursework and practical learning experiences I was looking for.”

Burke has taught across districts and elementary grade levels throughout her career, before leading the STEM — or science, technology, engineering and mathematics — lab at Sycamore Elementary, where she has remained spearheading the cutting-edge, growing area of education for the past 10 years.

“What excites me most is that STEM is no longer just about science, technology, engineering and math in isolation,” Burke said. “At its best, it helps students develop a mindset, teaching them to be curious, resilient, adaptable learners.”

In addition to her education work, Burke’s new title includes serving on the state’s Teacher Advisory Council and a year’s worth of applications, essays and interviews to battle it out for the national honor, to be announced next fall.

“At the end of the day, though,” she said, “I love what I do, and no recognition is truly necessary.”

‘Proud to be a Blue Raider’

Burke, originally from Boca Raton, Florida, balanced both an education degree and playing on MTSU’s soccer team throughout her undergraduate studies, growing an appreciation for hands-on and practical experiences both on and off the field.

“MTSU’s program provided a strong balance of educational theory and practical application, helping me feel prepared for the realities of the classroom,” said Burke, who had dreamed of becoming a teacher since the fifth grade. “Dr. Diane Gower’s course, especially, challenged us to think beyond textbooks and taught us how to create our own hands-on instructional materials tailored to students’ needs.

“The master’s program, too, offered the opportunity for face-to-face learning and collaboration. The relationships I built and the experiences I gained through both degree programs played a significant role in preparing me for the educator I am today, giving me a mindset that has stayed with me throughout my career and continues to influence the way I approach teaching … I will always be proud to be a Blue Raider.”

Burke said this academic preparation, steeped in hands-on, tailored teaching methods in addition to the mental resilience fostered through soccer, translated particularly well into the realm of STEM, where students research, think critically, build, try and often fail.

“STEM is where we give students opportunities to innovate, collaborate and persevere through challenges; we help them develop skills that will serve them in any career field or life path they choose, doing more than simply memorizing information,” Burke said. “It’s where we can build their confidence and mindset to tackle whatever opportunities and challenges the future may bring.”

The Tennessee Department of Education’s release announcing Burke’s win echoed this sentiment, stating that “throughout her career, (Burke) has remained committed to developing innovative instructional practices that empower students to think critically, persevere and prepare for a future that has yet to be defined.”

When Burke’s efforts were formally recognized at the Tennessee Excellence in Education Banquet last month, she said she didn’t even realize the commissioner of education and the previous state teacher of the year, introducing this year’s winner, were, in fact, describing her.

“As they spoke about the winner’s beliefs and approach to education, I remember thinking, ‘Whoever this person is, I’d really like to get to know them because we seem to share many of the same philosophies about teaching and learning.’ A few moments later, they called my name. It was a surreal experience.”

Burke now takes on her roles as a member of the state’s Teacher Advisory Council, “collaborating with educators and state leaders to share a teacher’s unique, classroom perspective to help inform conversations about education,” and vying for the national title, saying, “I am excited for the opportunity to represent Tennessee and share the incredible work happening in classrooms across our state.”

Foremost, however, as the fanfare settles, she has returned to her classroom happy place, back in the lab with her students and with time to process the banner year of recognition.

“One of the core beliefs I promote in the STEM lab is that failure is not something to avoid, but an essential part of learning,” Burke said. “We celebrate what we call ‘FLOPS’ in my classroom because some of the most valuable lessons come from ideas that don’t work the first time.

“Regardless of the much-appreciated honors, I hope to be remembered as an educator who helped students see setbacks not as reasons to quit, but as opportunities to learn and grow. If students leave my classroom with the confidence to take risks, learn from failure and persevere through challenges, then I have accomplished something worthwhile.”

Learn more about MTSU’s College of Education at https://education.mtsu.edu/.

— Stephanie Wagner ([email protected])