Hillsdale Native Named Outstanding Prospective Secondary Education Teacher

Izabella Burke | Outstanding Secondary Education Teacher winner. 

Hillsdale, Michigan, native Izabella Burke was recently named Outstanding Prospective Secondary Education Teacher by Grace College’s School of Education. She was one of four recipients awarded a plaque and recognition for her achievements in the classroom.

“Izabella exemplifies the excellence, both in and out of the classroom, of Grace College graduates,” said Dr. Cheryl Bremer, dean of the School of Education at Grace College. “We are very proud of the effort she put into her student teaching and education.”

Although Burke knew she wanted to pursue education for a long time,

her decision to major in secondary social studies education came at the last moment. According to Burke, her education confirmed she made the right choice.

“Grace gave me all the tools necessary to be an effective moral practitioner,” said Burke.  “The education program is no joke; it is a challenging degree. I went into my student teaching semester highly prepared for what was to come, and because of my training, I am more than confident that I will excel this fall.”

One of the most impactful aspects of her training was her student teaching semester.

“Student teaching was one of the best experiences of my life,” said Burke. “I learned so much and had the best time being an eighth-grade teacher. Bonding with the students was truly life-changing.”

Burke recently accepted a seventh-grade world history position at PATH School in Indianapolis,

a public K-8 charter school. She aspires to earn a master’s degree to become “a teacher for future teachers.”

“Just like what I experienced here at Grace College, I would love to be that for someone else,” said Burke. “Someday, I hope to be at least half as good as the incredible Dr. Laurie Owen and wise Professor Gilmer.”

To learn more about Grace College’s School of Education, visit www.grace.edu/academics/undergraduate/academic-schools-departments/school-of-education/.

Photo Attached: Hillsdale, Michigan, native Izabella Burke was recently named Outstanding Prospective Secondary Education Teacher by Grace College’s School of Education.

Grace College is an accredited, Christ-centered institution of higher education located in the picturesque lakeside town of Winona Lake, Ind.  Affiliated with Charis Fellowship, Grace College was founded in 1948.  Today Grace offers more than 100 majors, minors, certificates and graduate programs through both on-campus and online delivery methods. Nearly all Grace College bachelor’s degrees can be completed in three years, and students can earn a bachelor’s and master’s in four total years through an accelerated degree program. Grace also has a ministry training center in Akron, Ohio. For more information, visit www.grace.edu.