SPC Alum Featured In UofS On Campus News
Student, poet and father of five
Burton finds inspiration for teaching career at home
January 8, 2010
Jeff Burton, undergraduate student and future teacher
Photo by Mark Ferguson
By Teri Rosenfelt
The goal of being an elementary school teacher is something student Jeff Burton came to easily. As the father of five children - Kye (seven), triplets Abby, Kyrra and Dylan (four) and Ainsley (two) - he found his career inspiration right at home.
"I want to teach elementary school because I want the kids to be young enough that they're still having fun in school," said Burton, who is currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Science. "With my own kids, I love the excitement of watching them learn something new."
Burton, his wife Melinda and their children live in Humboldt, so to accommodate his studies at the U of S, he spends Monday to Wednesday in Saskatoon taking classes, then returns home for the rest of the week. Before coming to the Saskatoon campus, Burton took two and a half years of arts and science classes at St. Peter's College in Muenster, which was a shorter commute but which did not offer all of the classes he needed.
Burton will apply to the College of Education this semester, and he knows being accepted will mean a continued sacrifice of time. However, he said it is the right thing to do for him and his family.
"I found myself not really enjoying my job, so I sat down with my wife and talked about it. We needed to change something. When you're not happy with what you have to do every day, it gets to be a little much when you have as busy of a life as we do."
Busy life may be an understatement. In addition to taking classes and raising five children, Burton recently self-published a collection of poetry along with some of his art and photographs. Bits from the Boldt has been well received by the library and bookstore in Humboldt, and is also available for purchase online.
Despite his projects and classes, Burton keeps family time as separate as possible. His parents are nearby and his wife's mother also lives in Humboldt, which gives the couple some extra support. However, Burton said they try to do as much as they can on their own and they just make it work. His children have also handled the situation well, and are looking forward to him becoming a teacher.
"Kye is trying to figure out the timeline to see if I'll teach any of them," he laughed. "Right now they think that's cool. When they're older they won't. But I'll take it while I can."
Teri Rosenfelt is a communications co-ordinator in University Communications.
