High School social studies teacher Suzanne Burket is a familiar face around the school. She has been teaching ninth-grade US History and DE US History at Tyrone for a long time.
Burket is a very dedicated and talented teacher. She always makes sure that everyone is on top of their work.
She is also well known for her talent as a singer ( click the related story link for more about her musical talent).
Freshman Potter Myers likes how involved Burket is.
“Mrs. Burket is involved with the topics that she teaches, and she is good at explaining those topics so students understand,” said Myers.
Freshman Genna Naylor appreciates Mrs. Burket’s push to all her students.
“Mrs. Burket is an awesome teacher, and she pushes all her students to the best of their abilities,” Naylor said.
What inspired you to go into teaching and/or choose the subject you teach?
My first major was in communications. I would go into new broadcasting because I liked politics, current events, and history. After being in a musical and an operetta with someone in that field, I realized it wasn’t what I thought it would be, and I started looking for something that fit my values better, something that would be a meaningful way to spend my life. My favorite course was history, and I liked working with teenagers, so that led me to this career.
What is your favorite thing about teaching?
I like that I get to contribute to people’s lives and help them. I like that I get to be creative and that I am doing something that I feel is meaningful.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I like singing, and I like spending time outside, especially in the woods
What is some good advice you’ve been given as a teacher?
I worked on some research projects with a history professor in college who always challenged me to look beyond the history book explanations of historical events and to use primary documents to reveal the depth of what happened. I still approach history that way and try to get my students to do the same.
What is the hardest part of teaching and why?
Teaching takes a certain energy that other jobs do not require. Some days, that energy is pretty zapped at 3:00!
What are some of the jobs you held before getting into teaching?
I was a car rental agent for Hertz in high school. During college, I worked in a factory that made paper products, I was also a singer at Boyertown, and I spent a summer working as a surveying assistant for a civil engineer.
What is your best advice to students?
Ability is nice to have, but I’ve seen many cases where attitude trumped ability, leading average students into high-level careers or businesses. I have also seen cases where a lack of work ethic caused high-ability students to squander what could have been a promising future. Don’t let your ability level limit your future options if you are willing to work hard, and don’t deceive yourself into thinking that ability is all you need to succeed.
