From Damian & Steve’s Desk

Dear Burke Community,

Of all the lessons I learned from so many of you during my eight years as Head of School at Burke, I am most grateful for your displays of courage, resolve, and compassion during the challenging periods of the pandemic, and during the terrifying shooting that took place at Burke on April 22. These experiences have shaped my life because they revealed the depth of this community’s fortitude and resilience. Throughout this year, I have seen the character of faculty, staff, and students honed through hard experiences, and I have been inspired by the generosity of so many parents, trustees, and alumni in response to the needs of others.

This indomitable spirit, your love and support, opened up windows to the heart. I appreciate the sacrifice so many of you made throughout my tenure, and I want to thank our faculty, staff, students, parents, trustees, alumni, and friends of our community for helping us navigate this school year under stressful and challenging circumstances. Your flexibility and perseverance, as well as your steady partnership, clarity of thought, and compassion for every student in our care has been uplifting.

These are not newly realized qualities of our community; this is who the Edmund Burke School community has been since its founding in 1968.

As I think about all I gained from Burke, I am grateful for the blessing of warm, committed, passionate, caring, and loving students, faculty, staff, parents, and trustees. Thank you for all you have given me, and my family. I am eternally grateful.

As the school community prepares for new leadership, I am excited about all that awaits the school under the headship of Steve McManus. I have abiding faith in the strength of the school’s mission and values, and I am encouraged by all Steve will do in tending to the heart of the school, with great care and attention.

I wish you all well in your journey ahead.

Peace be with you, my friends, Damian Jones Head of School 2014-2022 Dear Burke Community,

Over the last several months, I have been listening to and gathering stories about Burke.

The story of Edmund Burke School is a rich and beautiful story, born out of the social and political upheaval of 1968. That story has been added to and deepened by the students, families, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees and alumni who have joined the community and become interwoven with the school’s story over the past 54 years. That story will now, understandably and sadly, include the pain and trauma of the violence and terror of April 22 and the enduring impact it will have on all of us. It has also become part of my story and, for better or worse, given shape to my transition and welcome as your next Head of School.

But we will also welcome new people into our community next year – me being one of them! – and invite them to share their stories, their identities, and their gifts. Each of us will help author the next chapter of this amazing school. And this moment in our school’s history can perhaps create space for new growth, a deepening love and commitment to each other and the school’s mission, and animate the school to action to ensure that it can be a model for peace, nonviolence, forgiveness, and for a renewed commitment to social justice and civic engagement- even in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

That hopeful future was what the founders believed in so deeply that they created a school– here on Connecticut Avenue in Northwest DC – as an intentional learning community to help bring that future into being. That hope is present and being lived out every day at Burke. Hope is what will sustain our resolve and commitment going forward as we continue healing and reclaim our school and strengthen our connections, friendships, and love for this community. It is that hope and vision that drew me to Burke and what will be the guiding star for my leadership in the years to come.

I am immensely grateful to Damian for his leadership, generosity, and care for that vision and this community, and for helping me deepen my understanding of what makes Burke, Burke. I look forward to building on his legacy and, with all of your help, leading this resilient, joyful, and hopeful community into the future.

In friendship, Steve McManus Incoming Head of School

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