Shirley & Robert Burns Scholarship

Shirley Balzum Burns graduated from Winona State with an Associate in Education degree in 1954. Shirley received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1957. In 1954 she began a very rewarding career as an elementary school teacher that spanned forty years. Shirley taught a variety of elementary grades. She began her teaching career by teaching fifth grade for three years at Westwood Elementary School in Bloomington, MN. In 1957 she moved to Southern California where she taught for the East Whittier City School District for 36 years until her retirement in 1994. She received a Masters degree in School Administration from UCLA in 1960, but Shirley always felt that her true calling was in the classroom. She spent her last twenty-four years in her favorite teaching assignment at Murphy Ranch school where she taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades and also directed many musical programs. Shirley also served as a Master Teacher supervising student teachers. Shirley loved the challenges of teaching; especially enjoying her relationships with her students, fellow teachers, and the thrill of watching her students grow as they progressed throughout the year. After her retirement she was voted into membership in the East Whittier School District Hall of Fame.

Shirley was very dedicated to the development of teaching as a profession and devoted many years and extra hours to serving on various committees and in leadership roles as a teacher advocate for the East Whittier Education Association for which she received several awards.

Shirley has always been very grateful for the scholarships which made it possible for her to attend Winona State and become a teacher. From the time she started elementary school she had decided that this was the career she wanted to pursue.

In 1975 Shirley married her husband Robert who had spent 30 years in a military career with the US Army. Both Shirley and Robert are very cognizant of the important roles of teachers in our society and feel it is very important that we encourage well qualified young people to enter and remain in the teaching profession.

Scholarship contact is Shirley.