Category Archives: Education

Elem teacher Julia Burgess lost in catastrophic Texas flooding

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Elementary school teacher Julia Burgess, her husband John, and the couple’s two sons have been lost in the catastrophic flooding that occurred in Texas on July 4, 2025. Photo credit: Bluebonnet News

This weekend, we continue to follow the stories of beloved educators who have perished in the catastrophic floods that occurred in the Texas Hill Country on July 4. On that day, in the early morning hours, massive flood waters swept through western Central Texas as families and campers got ready to celebrate the Independence Day weekend. Two of those campers, John Burgess and his wife, Julia Burgess, were staying with their two young sons in an RV campsite. The parents have been confirmed dead, and the boys have not yet been found. The couple’s daughter was a participant at a summer camp nearby, Camp Longhorn, that was not affected by the flooding.

Julia Burgess was employed as an elementary school teacher in the Liberty Independent School District, located just outside of Houston. She had worked at the school since 2020. Formerly, she was a teacher at Lakewood Elementary in nearby Belton.  In addition to teaching, Julia was a volunteer for the Junior League of Bell County. Her husband was a small business owner.

Julia Burgess was 39 years old. Our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of John and Julia Burgess.

 

Texas educators Reece and Paula Zunker perish in July 4 floodwaters

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Tivy High School teacher and boys’ soccer coach Reece Zunker, his wife Paula, a former teacher, and their two children perished in the floodwaters that decimated a campground in Kerrville, Texas, in the early morning hours of July 4. Photo credit: Mail Online

We are greatly saddened to report that two educators perished in the floodwaters that decimated a campground in Kerrville, Texas, in the early morning hours of July 4. Reece Zunker and his wife Paula Zunker and their two children, Lyle and Holland, were lost in the catastrophe.

Reece taught and served as the Head Coach for the boys’ soccer team at Tivy High School in the Kerrville Independent School District. He has been described as “a passionate educator and a beloved soccer coach” by colleagues at the school. “His unwavering dedication to our students, athletes, and the Tivy community touched countless lives and will never be forgotten,” officials at the school posted online last Sunday. His career as an educator spanned 12 years.

Jonathan Ellington, who played for Zunker and graduated from Tivy High in 2019, remembered his former coach fondly. “Coach Zunker is the whole reason we excelled in soccer at Tivy in 2019,” Ellington recalled. “He taught us to work hard, to move as a team, and how to trust and rely on one another’s instincts in the beautiful game,” Ellington continued. “He was a father figure to us all and was an integral part of the culture at Kerrville Tivy,” Ellington concluded.

Reece was named the Tivy High School Teacher of the Year, and was also named the school district’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, says Kerrville Superintendent Dr. Brent Ringo. “He was so respected by our coaches and teachers, and beloved by our students,” Dr. Ringo recalled.

Reece’s wife, Paula, was a former teacher at Tiny High School. “The care and impact she shared with her students continue to be felt, even years later,” officials posted in their online post.

The family had been vacationing at a river house near Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, when the disaster occurred. More than 120 people were swept away and killed in the flood, with at least 160 are still missing.

Texas teacher Jeff Wilson lost in catastrophic Texas floods

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Teachers at Kingwood Park High School are mourning the loss of Jeff Wilson, a Career Technology educator who perished in the catastrophic floods that hit Kerrville, Texas, on July 4. Photo credit: KHOU-11

The community of professional educators in the Humble County, Northeast Houston in Texas, is mourning the loss one of their own. Jeff Wilson, a teacher at Kingwood Park High School and his wife, Amber, and son, Shiloh, perished in the catastrophic floods that hit Kerrville, Texas, in the early morning hours of July 4.

In a career that spanned 30 years, Jeff taught Career Technology at both Kingwood Park High School. He instructed courses in collision repair and auto body refinishing. He also taught at Humble High School in the same school district.

In addition to his work at the high school, Jeff also spent 14 years as an instructor for I-Car, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Repair. He once said I-CAR courses are valuable to his students because of the knowledge and skills they provide, which makes his students more employable. I-CAR has reported that over the years, 98% of Jeff’s students achieved Platinum ProLevel 1 status.

Family friend Johnny Dudley remembers the popular teacher with fondness. “Jeff has been my friend for over 25 years. We went to a bunch of the same rodeos back when he was riding,” he recalls. “Now his 12-year-old son Shiloh is riding and Jeff loves nothing more than to haul him to junior rodeos. We know that they were in Kerrville for a rodeo.” Dudley continues. In his day, says Dudley, Jeff rode steers, bulls, and saddle bronc horses. He was forced to give up the activity in 2004 because of injuries he sustained from a motorcycle accident.

The Humble Independent School District (ISD) encompasses the city of Humble, parts of Houston (including Kingwood), and portions of unincorporated Harris County (including Atascocita and Fall Creek), with a small section extending into Montgomery County.

Jeff and his family will be greatly missed, say all who knew him.

WY music teacher Collin Binko garners prestigious Milken Educator Award

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Music educator Collin Binko of Jackson, Wyoming, has garnered a prestigious 2025 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Cowboy State Daily

In an atmosphere where Fine Arts are often undervalued, there are many educators throughout our country who continuously push forward to teach these courses in their schools. One of them, Collin Binko, teaches music to students of all ages in an entire district in Jackson, Wyoming. His efforts are so appreciated, that he has been named a 2024-2025 Milken Educator.

In addition to his role as the District Fine Arts Coordinator for Teton County Public Schools. Collin also teaches courses in choir, band, orchestra, and guitar at Jackson Hole High School.

A saxophone player, Collin completed his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2013.

According to the Milken Foundation, Collin earned the honor because he uses music to inspire students in a district where a third of the learners are multilingual. He’s credited with transforming the high school Fine Arts programs at both the middle school and the high school level. In fact, he doubled the enrollment in choir courses in each grade until all his classes were full to capacity. He relates music theory to core subjects such as math and reading. Collin produced the middle school’s first musical and included high schoolers who wanted to participate, while creating partnerships between the school and community groups such as the Cathedral Voices Chamber Choir.

Collin is one of only 45 educators nationwide to be honored with a Milken Educator Award this year. These prestigious honors have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the award includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country whose work strengthens best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

 

Native American educator and Chalkboard Champion Minerva Allen of Montana

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Native American educator Minerva Crantz Allen worked in Early Childhood Education  near her childhood home on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Lodge Pole, Montana. Photo credit: Legacy.com

Throughout our country’s history, there have been notable Native American educators who have worked with young people in our schools. One of these was Minerva Crantz Allen, a member of the Assiniboine tribe from Montana.

Minerva, whose Native name was Sunk’ Pa (Chipmunk), was born on April 24, 1934, in Big Warm, located in north central Montana. Her father, Ernest Crantz Sr., was of French Chipewyan descent, and her mother, Felistis Chopwood, was born in the Gros Ventre sect of the Assiniboine tribe.

As a young child, Minerva grew up on the Fort Belknap Reservation in a traditional lodge. Montana winters were bitter cold, but the lodge was insulated with pine branches and animal hides, and a fire pit in the center of the structure kept everyone warm. The elders entertained the children through storytelling, passing down traditions and tales that Minerva would pass down to her own children and grandchildren through her poetry.

When she was only six years old, Minerva began her education, learning to speak English from missionaries. After elementary school, Minerva enrolled at Flandreau Indian High School in South Dakota. Next, she studied at Northern Montana College (now known as Montana State University, Northern), although she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University. Later she completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Counseling from MSU, Northern. In addition, she earned a Master’s degree in Teaching with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah.

Once she earned her degrees, Minerva inaugurated her career as an educator in the Hays Lodge Pole School District. Her work there spanned a total of 20 years. She worked primarily in the area of Early Childhood Education, and she was also extensively involved with teacher training.

In addition to her responsibilities as an educator, Minerva served on the Board of Directors at Aaniiih Nakoda College, the Bilingual Director and Federal Programs Director for Hays Lodge Pole Schools, and the President of the Montana Bilingual Education Association.

Minerva was also a celebrated author. She published of several books of poetry, including Vanishing Braves (1987), Spirits Rest (1981), Inktomi and the Ducks (1986), Stories by Our Elders: The Fort Belknap People (1983), and Nakoda Sky People (2012).

Sadly, this talented and accomplished educator passed away on May 24, 2024. She was 90 years old.