From majoring in chemistry at the prestigious University of Notre Dame to living in Solidarity at the Monastery of Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon, the life of Mr. Kevin Burke has been anything but ordinary. Between joining the Navy through an ROTC program, working for the IRS, banking for over 10 years, and experiencing the profound loss of his wife, his journey into teaching Chemistry at Brophy reflects a life of continuous growth.
Born in Boston as the oldest of six siblings, Mr. Burke always had an aptitude for the classroom, frequently finishing at the top of his class, and ultimately pursued chemistry due to having a great biology and chemistry teacher who inspired him to continue.
However, his pathway into the classroom was far from direct. After graduating from Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Mr. Burke obtained his credentials for education at St. Mary’s, a sister school just across the road. Yet, economic difficulties emerged, forcing him to direct his career choice. “At that point, I had my wife and two kids, and it just wasn’t economically feasible.”
Utilizing his ROTC scholarship enabled Mr. Burke to pursue his MBA, which ultimately led to a career as a banker for over 10 years.
It wasn’t until his two children were financially independent that Mr. Burke considered his profession as a teacher. “My two children were already through school, so there was no financial support necessary there, he explained.
The course of his life would change even more after experiencing the profound loss of his wife, reopening the door to a call to spiritual life he had felt since childhood, leading him to join the Monastery at Mount Angel Abbey just outside of Portland, Oregon. Though having a profound fondness for the” Benedictine charism, the system of prayer,” he left after 10 months, due to the difficulties of “living in community”.
This pivotal chapter led Mr. Burke to Arizona, to his original calling: teaching. First, working as a substitute teacher at Scottsdale Unified’s Alternative School for troubled students, then teaching at Desert Mountain for a little over a decade, and ultimately ending up at Brophy.
Mr. Burke’s journey from student, banker, monastic, and Chemistry teacher shows the meaning of life’s journeys outside of the classroom.