Harding Fine Arts Academy’s math teacher, Jennifer Burris, named DaVinci Institute’s A+ Teacher of the Year
Published: March 23rd, 2016
OKLAHOMA CITY – The DaVinci Institute® has named Harding Fine Arts Academy math teacher, Jennifer Burris, 2016 Oklahoma A+ Schools® 2016 Teacher of the Year. The DaVinci Institute is Oklahoma’s Creativity Think Tank that promotes statewide creative renaissance through lectures, workshops, professional development, research and advocacy. The DaVinci Institute supports numerous creative K-12 enterprises including the Oklahoma A+ School initiative.
The DaVinci Institute and the Kirkpatrick Foundation joined forces to develop the Oklahoma A+ Schools, whose school reform model which maintains that two-way integration of the arts in curriculum, play a central role in how children learn. This nationally recognized program is a division of Academic Affairs at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
“Beginning in 2010, DaVinci began the A+ Teacher Award which is awarded to an Oklahoma A+ School Teacher whose extraordinary creativity and integration of the arts into the curriculum exemplifies the purpose of the A+ Schools of nurturing creativity in every learner.
Jennifer Burris certainly fits this description. She has been a leader in her school and in the OKA+ network as a whole. She is very student centered and uses the A+ framework to create instruction which meets each of their needs.” Sandra Kent, Executive Director Oklahoma A+ Schools.
Jennifer, who is a graduate of Broken Arrow High School, received her Bachelor degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She has been teaching for Harding Fine Arts academy and is working on her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL) degree at Southern Nazarene University.
“Jennifer Burris’ approach to the curriculum is always student focused and results driven, and it is not uncommon to hear students say, ‘I’ve never liked math, but Ms. Burris’ class is my favorite class!’ said Barry Schmelzenbach, Harding Fine Arts Academy principal. “Her approach not only enriches her student’s daily experiences, but it motivates them to achieve at levels even they never thought possible in a subject, like math, that typically deflates,” he said.
Stephanie Crossno, a senior fellow at Oklahoma A+ Schools, praised the selection of Burris.
She told The City Sentinel, “It is exciting and fitting that the principles of arts integration are being used in a high school math classroom. Jennifer develops curriculum that is rigorous, connected, and relevant to her students’ lives. Hopefully, Jennifer’s influence will inspire and challenge other teachers to explore the arts as a learning pathway in their own classrooms.”
Mrs. Crossno, who know Burris, is now the English Department Chair at All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler, Texas. Crossno is a career educator who has worked at several schools, including Casady and Mt. St. Mary, both in Oklahoma City.
The DaVinci Institute will honor Ms. Burris for her creative endeavors at the Oklahoma History Center on Friday, April 1. Keynote speaker Mr. Scott Meacham, former State Treasurer and current CEO of I2E | Innovation to Enterprise, will speak on “Education for Innovation.”
Harding Fine Arts Academy is an Oklahoma City charter school that prepares high school students for college in an academically challenging, arts-integrated environment and has recently been named a 2015 Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
HFAA is based at the Harding High Building on N. Shartel Avenue in the Central Park Neighborhood, near the historic Paseo Arts District.
The facility is adjacent to the Edgemere Park, Edgemere Heights and Crown Heights neighborhoods in the heart of Oklahoma City.
NOTE: Editor Pat McGuigan contributed to this report.