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Sara Von Burg wants to leave her footprint on the world. It’s a goal that sparked her career choice—teaching—and those who know her say that through this and her spirit of service, her mark has already been indelibly imprinted on many.
“From the very first class, Sara burst with enthusiasm and a passion for teaching,” said Neil Garofano, Ed.D., inclusive education program chair at Marymount College of Fordham University. “Her many talents and her zeal will surely result in a teaching career that will reflect her true character.”
As an inclusive-education major, Von Burg earned dual certification in childhood/elementary education and Special Education. Inclusive education involves teaching diverse learners—including children who may have been separated from the mainstream student population into Special-Education classes—in the same classroom. The goal is in keeping with federal and state laws that require that children with disabilities receive an education in the least restrictive environment possible, and Marymount has received state grants to help improve inclusive education in Westchester County schools.
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Sara Von Burg
Photo: Peter Freed
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Von Burg believes that children should not be categorized based on their backgrounds or their perceived capabilities; rather, she prefers to see the unique possibilities that exist within each child.
“Special Ed students are like all other students. They each have their own challenges,” said Von Burg. “With all children, you look into their eyes and see the joy and excitement they possess. I want to help develop the self-esteem, confidence and ability of Special Ed children so they can succeed in the academic world.”
Having graduated a semester early, Von Burg is working as a director of education at Sylvan Learning Center, which provides tutoring services for K-12 students. Von Burg is also home schooling Special-Ed students and interviewing for her dream job as a public-school teacher. Never known to rest on her laurels, she is also applying to graduate schools for further studies in literacy and curriculum.
“I think Sara will be able to handle any type of classroom situation, which will make her more marketable,” said Cristen Delaney, director of the Sylvan Learning Center in Wappinger Falls, N.Y. “She comes up with different techniques and strategies depending on the environment she's working in.”
While at Marymount, Von Burg’s record of volunteerism included work at the Learning Center, where she tutored fellow students, and with Campus Ministry, among other endeavors. Her academic efforts, equally strong, earned her membership in the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit honor society and the Phi Beta Delta honor society. Beyond campus, she participates as a lector and Eucharistic minister in her church and as a staff member for parish confirmation retreats and youth retreats held by the Marist Brothers in Esopus, N.Y., near her hometown of Wappinger Falls.
Von Burg was recently honored by the archdiocese of New York for her work nurturing the spiritual needs of girls as a longtime member of the Girl Scouts. She received the prestigious Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton award during a ceremony held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.
“I am not looking for fame or fortune,” said Von Burg of her future. “I just want to be a classroom teacher with students I can teach to be well-rounded, compassionate individuals. Youth are the future of our society,” she said. “If they are well educated, we will all be in a better place.”
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