Welcome to Educate, Encourage & Empower, a podcast series produced by the Burke’s Communications Office. Also known as the Katherine Delmar Burke School, the mission of our San Francisco-based K-8 school is to educate, encourage, and empower girls.
Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.
Each episode dives into our classrooms and campus spaces to share stories, insights, and experiences about what makes the Burke’s school community unique.
"Thanks to my parents, Burke’s, and participating in a female-dominant sport, I was raised to believe I belonged in any room I walked into." - Distinguished Alumna Whitney Gaynor '96, Entrepreneur, Technologist, and Olympic Judge
In this special episode, recorded at the Alumnae Reunion Luncheon, Whitney Gaynor '96 reflects on how her time at Burke’s served as the foundation for an extraordinary journey. From early lessons in creativity, confidence, and community to formative classroom and extracurricular experiences, she shares how Burke’s helped to instill in her the belief that she belonged in any room she entered—a mindset that shaped every step that followed.
Grounded in gratitude, this episode is a tribute to the enduring impact of a Burke’s education and community.
16 Sept 2025
A Tradition of Trailblazers: Celebrating International Women's Day
In this episode of Educate, Encourage, and Empower, Diana Schneider, Director of Communications at Burke’s, sits down with Head of School Michele Williams to explore the extraordinary legacy of the school’s founding women and the lasting impact of their bold vision. From Lizzie Burke’s seat on San Francisco’s Committee of 100 to Kate Kennedy’s groundbreaking work for equal pay and union rights, and Katherine Delmar Burke’s unwavering belief in the power of girls’ education, Burke’s history is rooted in leadership and progress.
Michele Williams reflects on how this legacy shapes Burke’s celebration of International Women’s Day, highlighting past speakers and spotlighting the 2025 guest, Cynt Marshall, former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks.
1 Aug 2025
A Commitment to Student-Centered Learning
In this episode of Educate, Encourage, and Empower, Associate Head of School Alice Moore is joined by Lizzie Charnas, fourth-grade social studies teacher and newly appointed Civic Engagement and Learning Coordinator at Burke’s. Together, they discuss the school’s evolving approach to civic engagement—moving beyond traditional service learning to help students develop as thoughtful, informed, and active community members. Tune in to hear how Burke’s is deepening its commitment to civic learning—on campus, across San Francisco, and in the hearts and minds of its students.
23 Jan 2025
Upper School Makery
This episode dives into how the Upper School Makery Facilitator and Technology Integration Specialist collaborates with faculty on integrating making, project-based learning, and design thinking into the curriculum.
7 Jan 2025
K-8 Math Program
Learn about Burke’s robust K-8 math program, designed to foster students' curiosity, confidence, and creativity. The program emphasizes a growth mindset, offering multiple entry points for learners of different abilities and making mathematics accessible to all students. Our graduates develop into confident, engaged mathematicians unafraid to tackle challenging problems.
6 Dec 2024
World Languages Program
Burke's introduces world language lessons to fourth graders, which evolve into a full language program in Upper School, offering Mandarin, Spanish, and French. As society becomes more interconnected, the need for proficiency in more than one language and culture will only continue to grow. The World Languages program aims to foster resilience, long-term commitment, and a strong foundation in language learning and cultural understanding, preparing students for high school and beyond.
We offer students a choice of three different languages because we want them to be excited to learn what they're learning, feel good about going to their language class, and bring that innate curiosity, interest, desire, and passion to the classroom each day. We know from current Upper School students and recent alumni that this choice was a truly meaningful moment in their academic journey.
20 Nov 2024
Lower School Music
In this captivating episode, join the Burke's Lower School Music Specialist as she shares her passion for teaching music to young learners.
The music classroom centers on nurturing each student's unique strengths, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and connected to the world of music. Through performance opportunities as well as engaging classroom activities, such as rhythm games and imaginative play, students develop a strong musical foundation and a sense of community.
15 Nov 2024
Burke's Library Program
Burke's Upper and Lower School Librarians take you on a tour of our library, a light-filled space filled with tables for collaborative learning and bean bags for lounging. The collection includes over 40,000 items, including print and electronic books and audiobooks, and is physically divided between the Lower and Upper School libraries. In addition to scheduled class time in the Library, the space is open in the mornings before school and during snack and/or lunch recess.
15 Nov 2024
Social-Emotional Learning at Burke's
Our students’ ability to achieve academic success and manage life’s inevitable challenges requires the ability to approach their future with confidence, resilience, and a set of tools that will help them achieve lifelong healthy habits.
Join Burke's Lower and Upper School Counselors to learn how the Burke’s curriculum is enriched with social-emotional learning. Our inclusive classrooms and community are built to offer a vibrant, intellectually stimulating, and enriching experience for both students and adults.
15 Nov 2024
Lower School Art
Join the Lower School Art Specialist for an overview of the K-4 program, which combines hands-on studio practice with exposure to art history. The program's goals are to help students see themselves as artists, build confidence in their unique creative vision, and teach visual language with an emphasis on self-direction, problem-solving, risk-taking, resiliency, and individual creativity.
15 Nov 2024
Lower School Makery
Burke’s Lower School Makery Specialist covers the highlights of this K-4 program, which teaches students both digital and non-digital skills related to design thinking, independent creative problem-solving, and critical thinking.
15 Nov 2024
Lower School Science
The Lower School Science Specialist talks about Burke's science curriculum designed to encourage students to find joy in scientific explorations. Each year's curriculum includes a mix of life sciences, physical sciences, earth sciences, and engineering, with regular tie-ins with subjects from the main classrooms.
15 Nov 2024
Kindergarten 101
Learn how Burke's kindergarten students engage in a robust social, academic, and emergent curriculum, which lays the foundation for years of joyful learning.
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