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Trustee Spotlight
Throughout the year, we highlight members of our Board of Trustees in the Burke Beat and online. Michelle M. P'28 joined the Board in 2023 and serves on the Trustees Affairs Committee and Strategic Planning Committee.
What motivated you to join the Board?
Burke has had an incredibly positive impact on my son. He is confident, growing academically, and sincerely enjoys school. To have a happy child is a blessing, and I wanted to give back to the institution that has been such a blessing to me and my family. I'll admit that part of my motivation was also sheer curiosity. Many parents feel like I do: curious to peek behind the curtain and learn a little about Burke's secret sauce.
What skills and experiences do you bring to the Board?
I am a marketer. I got my graduate degree in business, and for the past 25 years, I have led customer-facing programs that increase sales and engagement for large American brands. I tend to look at issues from a market demand perspective. I focus on how all relevant parties experience Burke and ask how we can optimize and improve that experience.
Tell us about a rewarding Board experience.
This fall, every [Strategic Planning] committee member interviewed a selection of students, alums, trustees, and other members of the Burke community. I loved doing the interviews. Each person I spoke to had a deep love and connection to the school and great enthusiasm for its future. It was fun to hear about Burke in the '90s and hear the inspiring personal stories of how the school brought joy or meaning to their lives.
Tell us about a favorite memory as an alumni or current parent.
I enjoy any time I get to spend time in the classroom. I recently attended one of Burke's open houses. I heard about Julia A.'s approach to developing a love of math in her students and how Amy was creating citizen scientists by supporting research for Mars expeditions with the students. It makes me quite jealous of my son. I'd love to be in his classes.
Do you have any advice for new families?
Let go a little. One of the things I love about Burke is how it fosters a sense of independence in students. It manifests in freedom of thought, ownership of their work, and navigation of our wonderful city. This requires parents to let go a little and trust the process, and trust their children.
Co-ed, progressive, college prep school in Washington, DC featuring a challenging curriculum in an inclusive environment for grades 6-12.
4101 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20008 | Phone: 202-362-8882 | Fax: 202-362-1914