Educate, Encourage & Empower

"Thanks to my parents, Burke’s, and participating in a female-dominant sport, I was raised to believe I belonged in any room I walked into."  - Distinguished Alumna Whitney Gaynor '96, Entrepreneur, Technologist, and Olympic Judge In this special episode, recorded at the Alumnae Reunion Luncheon, Whitney Gaynor '96 reflects on how her time at Burke’s served as the foundation for an extraordinary j...

In this episode of Educate, Encourage, and Empower, Diana Schneider, Director of Communications at Burke’s, sits down with Head of School Michele Williams to explore the extraordinary legacy of the school’s founding women and the lasting impact of their bold vision. From Lizzie Burke’s seat on San Francisco’s Committee of 100 to Kate Kennedy’s groundbreaking work for equal pay and union rights, an...

In this episode of Educate, Encourage, and Empower, Associate Head of School Alice Moore is joined by Lizzie Charnas, fourth-grade social studies teacher and newly appointed Civic Engagement and Learning Coordinator at Burke’s. Together, they discuss the school’s evolving approach to civic engagement—moving beyond traditional service learning to help students develop as thoughtful, informed, and a...

This episode dives into how the Upper School Makery Facilitator and Technology Integration Specialist collaborates with faculty on integrating making, project-based learning, and design thinking into the curriculum.

Learn about Burke’s robust K-8 math program, designed to foster students' curiosity, confidence, and creativity. The program emphasizes a growth mindset, offering multiple entry points for learners of different abilities and making mathematics accessible to all students. Our graduates develop into confident, engaged mathematicians unafraid to tackle challenging problems.

Burke's introduces world language lessons to fourth graders, which evolve into a full language program in Upper School, offering Mandarin, Spanish, and French. As society becomes more interconnected, the need for proficiency in more than one language and culture will only continue to grow. The World Languages program aims to foster resilience, long-term commitment, and a strong foundation in langu...

What does music education look like at Burke's? In this episode, discover how the Lower School music program inspires creativity, confidence, and connection. Through singing, movement, rhythm games, imaginative play, and performance opportunities, students build musical skills while finding joy in making music together. At the heart of the program is a commitment to helping every child feel seen,...

Burke's Upper and Lower School Librarians take you on a tour of our library, a light-filled space filled with tables for collaborative learning and bean bags for lounging. The collection includes over 40,000 items, including print and electronic books and audiobooks, and is physically divided between the Lower and Upper School libraries. In addition to scheduled class time in the Library, the spac...

Our students’ ability to achieve academic success and manage life’s inevitable challenges requires the ability to approach their future with confidence, resilience, and a set of tools that will help them achieve lifelong healthy habits.  Join Burke's Lower and Upper School Counselors to learn how the Burke’s curriculum is enriched with social-emotional learning. Our inclusive classrooms and commun...

What does it mean to think and create like an artist? In this episode, explore Burke's Lower School art program, where hands-on studio experiences and art history inspire students to experiment, imagine, and express themselves. As they develop artistic skills, students also build confidence, visual literacy, resilience, and the courage to take creative risks—all while discovering their own unique...

Burke’s Lower School Makery Specialist covers the highlights of this K-4 program, which teaches students both digital and non-digital skills related to design thinking, independent creative problem-solving, and critical thinking.

The Lower School Science Specialist talks about Burke's science curriculum designed to encourage students to find joy in scientific explorations. Each year's curriculum includes a mix of life sciences, physical sciences, earth sciences, and engineering, with regular tie-ins with subjects from the main classrooms.

Learn how Burke's kindergarten students engage in a robust social, academic, and emergent curriculum, which lays the foundation for years of joyful learning.