Winter 2015
|
TOWER
17
Dr. Doris Burkhart Builds a Legacy for the Future
A
s an elementary school teacher, DR. DORIS
BURKHART ’48, M ’65 made such a profound
impact on her kindergarten students that several
of them still keep in touch with her, 50 or 60 years later.
Teaching wasn’t just her profession – it was her passion. It
wasn’t always easy. Her first job after graduation was teach-
ing kindergarten at the Blue Ball Elementary School in
Lancaster County. But she was living in rural Cumru
Township at the time. Burkhart found a way to get to the
school – she commuted via trolley every day. As a first-year
teacher she taught 45 students in the morn-
ing and 45 more in the afternoon. In spite
of a long commute and a crowded classroom,
Burkhart’s energy was contagious. She
brought warmth, laughter and imagination
to the classroom. Her students always
remembered that about her.
“I always found at least one thing I
loved about each child,” Burkhart recalled.
At KU, then called the Kutztown State
Teacher’s College, Burkhart was ambitious,
and pursued an education degree, while also taking courses
in English and political science. Although studious,
Burkhart also enjoyed herself in college, and sometimes
broke character to climb into Old Main’s tower, or sneak
into the dorm rooms after curfew. KU was also where she
met her late husband, Kenneth, to whom she was married
for 54 years. They adored each other, and loved playing
bridge, square dancing, camping and fixing up their cozy
17th century stone farmhouse.
Burkhart’s degree from Kutztown launched her career –
she went from teaching kindergarten at Blue Ball to teach-
ing kindergarten, second, third, fourth and sixth grade for
the Governor Mifflin School District. While teaching and
raising her children, she came back to KU for her master’s
degree in early childhood education, and later completed
an Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University. With her
doctorate, she became principal of the Schuylkill Valley
Elementary School in Leesport, Pa., but missed her class-
room and returned to teaching. Even after Burkhart
retired in 1992, she kept living her passion, and began
teaching and advising student teachers as a professor in
the Department of Elementary Education at Kutztown.
She also taught children’s literature at the Pennsylvania
State University, Berks campus, and travelled widely as a
guest speaker and expert in early childhood education.
“Doris had a special interest in children’s literature,”
said Ann Lemon, Burkhart’s daughter-in-law
and an instructor in communication design at
KU. “She loved bringing children’s books to life
in the classroom through dramatic play, art-
work, storytelling, role playing, music and other
creative techniques.”
In 2000, Burkhart retired from KU, and the
following year was presented with the Kutztown
Alumni Association Citation Award for Service
and Professional Achievement, the highest
honor granted by the alumni association. After
a lifetime of service – both to the community and the
university – Burkhart was honored to receive the award.
“My favorite thing is helping people become the best
they can be,” she said in a 2001 Reading Eagle article.
“How wonderful it is to receive something when I was
doing what I love doing. To know that you made a differ-
ence in the lives of someone, helping them become the
best they can be.”
“Doris exemplifies all of the best qualities of KU grad-
uates,” said Tracey Thompson, executive director of the
Kutztown University Foundation and Alumni Relations.
“We are honored to have her as an alumna.”
Burkhart currently resides in Wyomissing, Pa., and
is proud of her four grandsons: Amos, son of her son
Dane; and triplets Eli, Caleb and John, sons of her
daughter Jill.
BURKHART’S FIRST GIFT
TO KU WAS IN 1981, for
$20. She wanted to
support the institution
that prepared her for the
teaching profession. For
the next 14 years, she kept
giving. To celebrate her
50th class reunion in 1998,
she made her largest con-
tribution ever – $1,000.
Subsequent annual dona-
tions were for the same
amount. Then, in 2011,
she met with Phil Irwin, a
senior development officer
for the KUF, to discuss her
philanthropic goals. An
enthusiasm for music and
a love of learning led her
to donate a major gift –
$110,000 – to the capital
campaign. Seventy-five
thousand dollars of her gift
went toward renovations
in Schaeffer Auditorium,
where a music library is
named after her, and
$35,000 was allocated to
create the Doris H. Burkhart
Endowed Scholarship for
Early Childhood Education.
She was proud of having
been a great teacher, and
wanted others to have the
same educational opportu-
nities she had enjoyed.
If you value the education you
received at KU, then please “pay
it forward” and help us assist
future generations of deserving
students. You can make a gift
quickly and easily online at
Your support
matters!
The Kutztown University Presidential
Ambassadors’ mission is to build KU
pride among the current student body
and share this pride with alumni at
both on and off-campus events.
They represent the university at alumni and foundation events and model philanthropy by sponsoring
campus and community activities, as well as contributing to scholarship funds.
The Presidential Ambassadors would like to invite you to participate in one of their largest events,
Dinner with Golden Bears, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015. This is an opportunity for
alumni to share their time and talent with current juniors and seniors, and help them prepare for life
beyond campus. For more information about this event, or the KU Ambassador program, please visit
or call the Foundation and Alumni Relations office at 610-683-4110.
BURKHART
