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Administration
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Dawn Miller
Principal and ChairI enjoy listening to and collaborating with students, teachers and parents to find more opportunities for students and help the school continue to improve. I have been a parent, teacher, assistant principal and principal during my 17 years at Burris Laboratory School.
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Vince Edwards
Assistant PrincipalI have been in school administration since 2012 and am currently working toward completing my Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. I am a big proponent of a well-rounded education that includes an emphasis on related arts and character education. I love my job because I get to lead great people in making a difference in the lives of our students.
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Abigail E. Comber
Assistant PrincipalI have been a classroom teacher for 16 years and have been with Burris since 2008. My education research interests include secondary education curriculum and instruction with emphasis in project-based learning and student-centered activities; stakeholder and community involvement in schools; professional development as adult learning; student ambassadors and school discipline.
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Megan McMullen
Secretary to Superintendent and PrincipalWithin my first week at Burris I realized I needed to be in an educational environment for the rest of my life. I am currently a sophomore at Ball State working on my undergrad in elementary education. It took a long time to get here but it’s worth it. I can not wait to have my own classroom and only dream of being half as amazing and dedicated to my students as our teachers at Burris.
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Robert Marra
Superintendent of University Schools and Executive Director of the Office of Charter SchoolsDr. Marra holds a Doctorate of Education from Ball State University, a Masters of Science degree in Education from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science from Buffalo State College. He has over 30 years of experience advocating for children services.
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Chad Wlodarek
Athletic DirectorI became a member of the Burris family in 1998. My mission is to offer a variety of opportunities for our students to develop athletically, mentally and academically through sports, activities and clubs.
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Lucas Reese
Technology Coordinator
Faculty
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Heather Abernathy
Instructor of EnglishBurris has enriched my teaching in ways I never thought possible! I love soliciting feedback from students and I consider them co-creators in our curriculum and learning. We grow together as readers, writers, and students of the world. My courses follow a workshop model with an emphasis on choice, writing groups, book clubs, and conferences. Encouraging students to take creative risks in their work and to develop their own voices are my favorite aspects of teaching English at Burris.
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Nathan Bailey
Instructor of Social Studies -
Michael Abernathy
Secondary Science Instructor -
Carlotta Blair
Library CoordinatorMy goal as the Burris Library Coordinator is to provide a friendly, encouraging, and informative library experience for our students, plus striving to provide updated materials that support our teacher’s curriculum. I have been with Burris nearly 24 years. I am the school Notary and an Indiana Certified Librarian. I am a member of the Indiana State Literacy Association, American Library Association and National Notary Association. I feel very honored to work with one of the best schools in Indiana!
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Cassie Bolander
Temp Burris Classroom AideA Burris parent prior to becoming staff, I wanted to find a way to give back to the school community. The aide position allows me to help both faculty and students work toward academic success.
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Brad Canada
Instructor of Social StudiesI have taught high school social studies for 15 years. Since 2005, I have taught Economics, U.S. Government, and U.S. History at Burris. I enjoy giving students hands-on experiences through field trips.
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LeighAnne Canada
Instructor of Elementary Education (First Grade)I am in my 15th year of teaching. This is my 5th year at Burris. I have taught in all grades 1 through 6.
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Alyse Cannon
Instructor of Secondary ScienceI have been teaching for three years, with this as my first at Burris. My background is in Life Science education, with focus on genetics and microbiology. I hope that all my students learn to have an appreciation for science through varied lessons and hands-on experiences.
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Heather Chalfant
Health Care CoordinatorI started in health care in 1996 and became a nurse in 2002. I have worked at IUBMH in critical care, progressive care unit, medical/stroke unit, outpatient dialysis, served on the hazmat team and worked pediatric triage for a pediatric office. I have been a Burris parent since 2000 and started on staff in the health clinic in 2013.
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Leah Chandler
Instructor of Secondary EnglishI have taught in a variety of settings – from an after-school program for at-risk kids to a small town junior/senior high school, and now Burris Laboratory School. No matter where I teach my goal is the same, to create lifelong learners who value the written word and think deeply about what they are reading, who are able to communicate their thoughts and opinions with clarity and conviction through writing and speaking, and are prepared to contribute to the conversation in the world around them.
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Becky Clark
Secondary Science InstructorI have been at Burris since 2018 and am currently pursuing my PhD in Educational Studies with a focus on differentiated instruction. In my classes, hands-on activities and projects are used to teach my students various science concepts. These allow my students to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts in diverse ways.
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Brad Clark
School Resource Officer -
Bethany Clegg
Instructor of Physical Education and HealthI am an Indiana licensed K-12 physical education, health and high ability teacher. I am a Nationally Certified Adaptive Physical Education educator. I seek opportunities to grow as a teacher and have demonstrated leadership in my profession by being a past President of the Indiana Society of Health and Physical Education. I am a recipient of the 2018 Walter Daly Excellence in Teaching Award.
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Kaitlyn Colby
Instructor of Secondary EnglishI hold a B.A. in English Education & Theatre Education from Ball State University and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from IUPUI. In addition to teaching in public schools, I have created and facilitated theatre programming for a variety of schools and nonprofits in the greater Indianapolis area.
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Rhonda Cunningham
Director of Special Education/Special Education TeacherMy desire to engage, challenge, and inspire growth in my students is not limited to the classroom. It is my goal to share with my students the awe and excitement, as well as the dedication and hard work that comes along with continued education to advance into a position that can continue to make a difference in the lives of many children. I hold myself to the same standards that I hold my students. That is, I strive to become a skilled thinker and learner, and I believe that this process is life-long.
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Edilia Ferrer
Instructor of Spanish EducationTeaching Spanish is exciting! I enjoy interacting with students. I always feel inspired by my students’ drive. I believe in a flexible approach of instruction, where students are encouraged to evaluate, interpret, and apply their new foreign language skills and cultural knowledge beyond the surface level.
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Matthew Garringer
Instructor of Secondary MathThis is my second year at Burris as well as my second year of teaching overall. I enjoy finding new ways to incorporate technology in the classroom and to present old concepts to students in new ways. I love the educational environment here at Burris. It is a privilege to work with such great teachers and administration: it makes my job much easier!
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Sarah Gaither
Title 1 InstructorI have worked at Burris for a total of 11 years. My current role is Title 1 Instructor, which means that I work with struggling students in reading and math.
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Diane Goodpaster
Instructor of Special EducationI have eleven years of experience implementing special education services for students who need mild interventions. I taught at Eastview Elementary in Connersville, Indiana and R.J. Baskett Middle School in Gas City, Indiana before starting at Burris in 2015. I believe in offering a wide variety of research-based curriculum, instructional settings, and support services to help each individual reach his or her full potential.
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Felicia Gray
Instructor of Elementary Education (First Grade)I have been an educator for 20 years, teaching at primary, upper elementary, and university levels. The majority of my career has been spent in elementary grades 1 and 2 teaching high ability and general education students at several schools in Muncie.
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Lisa Halley
Instructor of Elementary Special EducationI have taught many students with a wide range of special needs. I believe that every student has the potential to learn and succeed and I enjoy helping my students on their journey to success.
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David Harman
Instructor of Physical Education and HealthI teach both Health and Physical Education from a wellness standpoint emphasizing the whole person. I currently coach Volleyball (assistant), Ladies Basketball, and Track and Field.
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Courtney Harnish
High Ability CounselorI am an alumna of Burris Laboratory School and it is such a gift to come back and serve the current students here. I have a passion for helping all students find their talents and strengths. My role is to support students academically, social-emotionally, and to encourage them to think about and prepare for their futures. I love helping students achieve their goals and beyond!
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Michelle Harris
Instructor of Elementary Education (Second Grade)I have been an elementary educator for 19 years with experience in second and third grades. I have an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Ball State.
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Lisa Haughn
Instructor of Elementary Education (Fourth Grade)This is my 6th year teaching at Burris. I enjoy working with students through Math Bowl, Japanese Exchange Program, Camp Crosley, and on a daily basis in fourth grade. I am proud to be Burris Owl and I am looking forward to many more years teaching at such an awesome school!
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Renee Huffman
Instructor of Elementary Education (Kindergarten)I have been a Burris teacher for 25 years. I truly enjoy teaching young learners and watching their success and maturity during their kindergarten school year. Each year I look forward to family interaction and participation because teaching is a team-effort! I also enjoy collaborating and working with Ball State professors and participants.
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Laura-Lea Hughes
Librarian/Media Specialist and Instructor of TechnologyBooks and technology are my passion. I believe that when students are given the ability to explore what is of interest to them in a structured but open classroom, the sky is the limit!
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Scott H. Jackson
Director of Choral Activities and K-5 General MusicI am a graduate of Indiana State University with B.A. in Music Education. I have been an educator for 18 years and have taught Choral, Band, Orchestra and Elementary classes in my tenure. I enjoy playing piano professionally in different bands in Central Indiana and am grateful for my daughter Viola. I believe that embracing music will create a lifelong joy and discipline in all facets of life.
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Eli Jones
Instructor of Social StudiesThe 2018-2019 academic year will begin my third year at Burris and my third year teaching overall. I take an active approach to social studies. My goal is for students to not just know history, but for them to do history so that one day they will change history.
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Becky Juday
Instructor of Elementary Education (Fifth Grade)I have taught 5th grade for seventeen years. In my classroom, students “own their own learning” by engaging in hands-on experiences as often as possible.
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Tara Karnes
Instructor of Elementary Education (Third Grade)During my 18 years of teaching, my goals have continued to include collaborating with parents to inspire a love of learning in my students. My wish for the children who come through my class is that they will always be kind, rise to difficult challenges, and become problem solvers.
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Karen Koch
Instructor of Secondary EnglishI’ve been at Burris since 2012, and I love teaching middle school language arts here. My areas of interest include reading workshop, project-based learning, curriculum development, and high ability education.
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Lainey Marshall
High School Mathematics InstructorI have been teaching math at Burris for almost 5 years now, and there is no place that I would rather be. I love working with an amazing group of colleagues to provide our students with an exceptional learning experience. I enjoy creating a positive classroom environment and helping students build their confidence with mathematics.
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Michael E. McClure
Instructor of Elementary Education (Fourth Grade)This is my fifth year teaching at Burris. I love working with all of the Burris students and I probably enjoy the adventures that we go on the most. Seeing students in different environments such as Camp Crosley, Japan, Conner Prairie, the statehouse, or even at events on campus reminds me how special our school is. Burris is an example of education in action and I am so proud to be a part of that.
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Amy Miller
Instructor of Secondary ScienceAs a former research scientist, my approach to teaching science is to integrate the lab experience in every situation possible. I believe that students learn through hands-on experiences and become more engaged when given the opportunity to do science. My goal is to have students leave my classroom as capable science learners possessing critical lab skills needed at the next level.
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Megan Miller
Speech-Language PathologistI have completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, both in Speech-Language Pathology, at Ball State University. I began working at Burris in 2016. My job as the speech-language pathologist at Burris is so rewarding! I thoroughly enjoy getting to know my students on an individual and small group basis. I love to see my students gain confidence when they are able to communicate more effectively as we work together to improve their speech and language skills.
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Evelyn Mocherman
Instructor of Secondary MathematicsSince joining the Burris Faculty in 2014 as a member of the Mathematics Department, I have loved being in an environment where students and faculty support and encourage each other through both struggles and successes! Some of my most rewarding experiences in teaching have been watching students push through their mental block when it comes to understanding mathematical concepts. It is a privilege to be a part of the moment when a student realizes they can put into practice the skills we have learned together to solve what used to be an unsolvable problem, building confidence in their own abilities.
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Elisabeth Ohly-Davis
Director of OrchestraThis is my 21st year as a school Orchestra Director, and I am thrilled to join the Burris staff with experience that ranges from starting beginning string players of all ages to students auditioning successfully for music majors in college. Orchestra is a vehicle for excellence, and students will have the opportunity to demonstrate leadership, creativity, and service in the program. In my spare time, I play the viola, hike epic trails around the world, raise alpacas, and knit items with yarn from their fiber.
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Stefanie Onieal
Instructor of Elementary Education (Second Grade)I have been an educator for over 20 years. My experience includes teaching Special Education, Reading Recovery, grades 1-4, technology literacy specialist and math coach.
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Jessica Papandria
Instructor of Social StudiesI have taught Social Studies to grades 7-12 for 14 years; this is my third at Burris Laboratory School. I enjoy reading mysteries and history books, traveling and spending time with my husband, Nick and two children, Vivian, 9 and Henry, 5.
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Danielle R. Phelps
Instructor of Visual Arts (K-8)This is my 15th year teaching elementary art and my 2nd year teaching middle school. Teaching art is truly my passion and it is a pleasure to educate and influence the future artists at Burris every day.
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Corby Roberson
Instructor of Secondary EnglishI have worked with students in a variety of capacities for the past 30 years of my life, and I can’t imagine anything else I’d rather do for work. Being an advocate for and learning in collaboration with LGBT+ and BIPOC students is the most exciting part of my profession. When I am not teaching and learning at school, I am usually outside trail running, cooking delicious vegan food, playing with my dog, or reading nonfiction texts about random subjects. Being back at Burris is an unexpected, yet very fortunate turn of events in my life.
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Emily Shepherd
Instructor of Secondary MathematicsI have been a teacher at Burris since August 1999. I believe it is important for students to be able to construct their knowledge about mathematics.
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Kelly Sloan
Instructor of Elementary Education (Third Grade)I have been teaching elementary for many years. I feel all students can learn and excel when given challenges and high expectations.
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Judith Sponseller
Instructor of Spanish EducationMy students are rewarded for effort, process, and progress and not correctness, and are encouraged to aspire to understand versus being understood. The Spanish language and culture instruction aims to affect the learner to progress from being a local citizen to that of a self-actualized, global, bilingual citizen who is empathetic to other cultures, races, genders, religions, economic inequality, and political perspectives beyond the local environment.
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Jennifer Stacy
Instructor of Elementary Education (Fifth Grade)I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ball State University. I have been teaching for 20 years. In that time, I have taught first grade, third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade. In addition, I have been a primary grade intervention teacher.
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Carmen Lili Stokes
Visual Arts InstructorI have been teaching visual arts for 18 years. I am honored to teach students from grades K-12 visual communication and to work closely with the David Owsley Museum of Art.
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Blake Turner
Instructor of Physical Education and Health -
Jenny Wood
Instructor of Secondary MathematicsI have a variety of teaching experiences from rural to urban, from small town advanced placement to city alternative schools. One thing all students have in common is the desire to be cared for. This premise is always in the forefront of my mind.
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Nicole Zirkle
Instructor of Elementary Education (Kindergarten)I am driven to be innovative in the teaching process. I am certified in Orton Gillingham, a reading approach that helps students understand how to read and spell. I look for ways to make learning fun and I love seeing those moments in my students’ faces when they are in awe of what they can do.
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