Q&A with ANDREW BURNS
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG…
Q: Start with the simple. Tell us a bit about your family, hometown, childhood.
AB: I come from a family of 6! An older brother Scott, twin younger sisters Julie and Stacey, and my amazing parents Barry and Sharon. I was born and raised just outside the city limits of Kingston near Glenburnie. The one word I think of when I recall my childhood is “outside.”
Q: Children are always asked what they want to be when they grow up. What did you want to be?
AB: Early on my answer would have been pilot with professional skateboarder being a close second.
Q: At Creekford Academy you want children to answer that question differently. How do you hope they will answer and why?
AB: As life rolls along I have learned that we go through a variety of jobs/careers/learning experiences. If I could go back in time I would answer this question with : I want to be challenged. I want to find fulfillment and to have the opportunity in my everyday “career” to make a positive impact in someone's life.
Q: While you’re thinking about childhood and school, how would you describe yourself as a student?
AB: I was the primary student that found school easy. This served me very well early on. It allowed me to accomplish all the educational goals laid out in front of me. As the years went by I found myself becoming less and less engaged with school as I struggled with finding ways to challenge my learning. This is around the time I became much more involved in music and sports as it allowed me to take control of my own learning.
Q: Your best and worst school memory?
AB: Best memory was recess and worst memory was speeches. I hated speeches more than I can even express in words.
Q: Your favourite childhood book or a book all children should read?
AB: Dr. Seuss - all of them. I also really loved the Hardy Boys and the “choose your own adventure” series.
A BIT ABOUT YOU NOW…
Q: Finish this sentence: When I’m not working, you can usually find me…
AB: Reading, golfing, boxing, golfing, working out, golfing, playing with Molly, golfing … I’m sure you see the pattern emerging.
Q: If you could be anywhere other than here, right this minute, where would you be? (Don’t overthink it!)
AB: One step to the right or the left … I’m exactly where I want to be.
Q: 3 words that best describe you?
AB: Passionate, motivated, practical
Q: 3 pet peeves?
AB: Lateness, traffic, laziness
Q: 3 favourite outdoor activities?
AB: Golf, skateboarding, walks with Molly
ON EDUCATION, LEARNING & CREEKFORD ACADEMY…
Q: Teachers are always described as life-long-learners; what is something you still want to learn or are currently learning?
AB: I am constantly reading about everything and anything! As a kid I was obsessed with juggling, so I play around with that still. My childhood was filled with skateboarding and golfing. As I age it has all come full circle and my days are once again are filled with golf and skateboarding. I really enjoy marital arts. I am working away at Taekwondo and have a desire to explore Brazilian Ju-jitsu.
Q: What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your job?
AB: I think my ability to see the big picture in education is one of my greatest assets in developing and delivering educational experiences to children.
Q: How do you think your colleagues would describe you?
AB: Quirky, Energetic, Diverse
Q: The best quote to share with children or students?
AB: “Why fit in when you were born to stand out” Dr. Seuss
Q: And one for their parents?
AB: Children should be taught HOW to and not WHAT to think.
Q: And the toughest question for last. Why start Creekford Academy?
AB: This is attempt number 3 in writing this … First attempt was a long winded textbook answer about the current school archetype and the challenges with change. Attempt 2 was the still long winded textbook answer with a few tidbits of my life. Attempt 3 nailed it and I got to use the word “heck” in it … Here we go!
It is very difficult to convey in a few sentences the lifelong passion I have always felt towards learning.
From an extremely young age I had a mother and father that encouraged all of the Burns kids to learn. They allowed us to attempt any and all activities we wanted with an encouraging smile and a nudge in the right direction. From building skateboard ramps to leaf raking/lawn cutting businesses. Some of these attempts were epic disasters in the sense maybe the ramp didn't come out exactly like the ones the pros had, but we rode the heck out of them, and couldn’t have been more proud of what we built.
It is memories like that which are the driving force behind my intense passion for Creekford Academy. The ability to offer kids with an environment that gives them the ability to imagine, create, and learn is the only way forward. Change begins at a grassroots level and Creekford Academy can be a part of that change.