Rep. Kelly Burke Has Whirlwind 'Principal for a Day' at Southeast Elementary

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- Southeast Elementary School principal Alice Spingola got a day off on Nov. 9, handing the reins to Illinois State Representative Kelly Burke for the Illinois Principals Association’s annual “Principal for a Day” program.

“When the IPA asked for principals interested in hosting a legislator for their annual ‘Principal for a Day’ program, I responded that I would be delighted,” Spingola said.

Serving as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Burke, who resides in Evergreen Park, has been representing the 36th District since January 2011. Her district includes Evergreen Park and parts of Chicago Ridge, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Willow Springs and Worth, and portions of Chicago's Beverly, Wrightwood, Mt. Greenwood and Auburn-Gresham neighborhoods.

As chair of the Illinois State House’s Higher Education Committee Burke handled herself with aplomb in the Dist. 124 elementary school’s classrooms. The state rep’s day included a game of Scoot in Lori Lurquin’s third-grade classroom. Students exercised their problem-solving skills as they roamed from desk to desk attempting to solve math equations.

Burke then visited Melissa Baffoe’s primary academic and life skills class across the hall where she read a book to the class. Then it was off to to a publishing party held by kindergarten students where they published their own books as part of Dist. 124’s Schoolwide Writing Curriculum.

First-graders got to hear Burke read a book to the class, “A Duck for President,” before visiting the fifth grade where she spoke about the role of a state representative.

“I loved interacting with the students, reading to them, playing ‘Scoot’ with Mrs. Lurquin's third- graders, and having a question and answer session with the fifth-graders who are learning about the three branches of government,” Burke said.

Burke also addressed the multi-dimensional abilities required to be an effective principal.

“I learned Mrs. Spingola does a lot of multitasking as principal,” Burks said.“She greets the children by name, spends time talking with parents and addressing their concerns, all while coordinating the technology changes necessary for today's education.”

Burke also serves on the Illinois House’s Agriculture and Conservation, Health Care Licenses, Higher Education Appropriations, Tollway Oversight and Labor and Commerce Committees in Springfield.

“Thank you to the students, teachers and staff of Southeast School; you made me feel welcome,” Burke said.