Erik Burrell

Before coming to Graland, Mr. Burrell worked as the director of diversity and outreach at an independent school in Dallas. His other roles over the years were English teacher, language arts teacher, and assistant principal. Mr. Burrell loves Graland's commitment to educating the whole child and is dedicated to carrying out that mission on the middle school level. Ask him about his goal of visiting all 50 states and all seven continents!

I love building relationships with students in Advisory and observing them grow over the course of the school year.

 

I am always impressed by students’ ideas and final products in Gates, and it is such a great lesson that the first Gates skill is empathy and encouraging the students to look beyond themselves in considering a problem to solve.

 

This is definitely each Grade 8 class meeting in which the students share their UpWords speeches. It consistently reminds me of why I became an educator when I listen to the students share their experiences in overcoming an obstacle and how that relates to one of Graland’s Guiding Principles.

 

I love the Grade 8 Civil Rights trip through the South and how the students are able to experientially study history while making connections to our present day.

We say this in education quite a bit: educate the whole child. I strive to do so each day.

 

I believe in each aspect of the Graland mission and am committed to helping students realize each tenet.

 

Exercising, reading, enjoying a good meal, and traveling.

 

The Frazier Thompson Notre Dame Scholarship Fund, the same fund that contributed to me having the ability to attend ND.

2019

 

Anaheim, CA

 

BA from University of Notre Dame

MEd from University of Notre Dame