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Welcome to the focus ACADEMY at burke high

The Focus Program at Burke High School began in 2011 as a continuation of a program that originated at the elementary level throughout what was then the Douglas County Learning Community.  When the time came to find a high school to host the program, Burke's Focus faculty presented their idea for a truly unique program within the Omaha Public Schools.  The Learning Community board was impressed, and awarded the program to Burke.
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​Our students have been a part of a one to one technology program since the beginning.  All Focus classes are cross-curricular.  Freshmen students will take United States History (Honors), English 1-2 (Honors), and FACTS (Honors).  In those three courses, students will deepen their understanding of our content by being immersed in it from many different angles.  For example, while studying the Great Depression the students will also be reading "No Promises in the Wind" by Irene Hunt.  To get that "immersion" we strive for, students will then recreate a "Hooverville" and film a mini-documentary describing life in a shanty town during the Great Depression. This deepening of understanding continues through a program of study you can learn much more about on this website.  Check out the COURSES ​tab for more information.

Our Faculty

Full-time instructors in the Burke Focus Academy

RANDY HOWARD
English, Social Sciences

The pioneering force behind the Academy's existence at Burke, Mr. Howard is an Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher award recipient.  Relationship building and diversifying instruction are just a couple of his many skills.  Students will learn more than they ever thought possible in Mr. Howard's class.

Tyler SieckE
Business, marketing, and information technology

Coming from the corporate sector, Mr. Siecke has a wealth of experience to share in his classroom.  He works with our entire faculty to integrate innovative technology lessons into our content.  He is also the coordinator of the Senior Career Internship Experience.
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Kelsi Zinn
Special Education

One of the premier Special Education teachers in our district, Ms. Zinn co-teaches in our Focus classes and serves as Case Manager for the Focus students.  Creating diversified lessons that allow students of all abilities to mainstream their learning is a tenet and a talent for Ms. Zinn.  She is dedicated to her students and an excellent teacher.

Dan Gathman
​English

With his incredibly extensive literary knowledge and experience, including a stint working with the original Freedom Writers, Mr. Gathman leads our students through the upper level English courses in our program.  He loves to pass on his passion for literature to his students.

Academy Pathway Faculty

Aaron McBride
​Social sciences

The 2016-2017 Burke Teacher of the Year, Mr. McBride brings extensive outside of classroom military experience to his AP American Government and American Government Focus classes

Angie wolfe
English, Journalism

Mrs. Wolfe, leader of Burke High's award winning Journalism department, will help lead our students through the Communication pathway of our proposed Career Academy.

Nichole Niebur
web and digital design

Mrs. Niebur, a website designer and Digital Media & Web Design instructor/guru, will help lead students through the Communication pathway of the proposed Career Academy.

Andrew Brooks
Director

Our Focus Director, Andrew Brooks, has fantastic experience in the educational technology sector and a passion for us to do great things.  In only his first year at the helm of the Academy, he has fostered partnerships with leaders in the private sector and expanded our footprint both within and outside of our school walls.  Mr. Brooks has shown his commitment to further building this Academy into the premier educational choice for Omaha students.

Burke high school




Burke High School is dedicated to providing exemplary education through the collaborative efforts of students, parents, staff and community.

​   Burke High School
   12200 Burke Boulevard
​   Omaha, NE 68154

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