50-Year-Reunion

Pamela Kay Gaither Burton 3924 Kentucky Highway 302, Van Lear, Kentucky 41265 pamelaburton789@gmail.com (606) 454 - 8922 April 23

Blessed. I have been and continue to be among the most blessed of individuals. I have been blessed with family, with friends, and with opportunities. After high school, I attended Bluefield State College, where I majored in elementary education. For the first ten years of my career I taught in Mercer County. I was a teacher for five years in the county ’ s gifted and talented program and then later at Preston and Bluewell Elementaries. In 1989, I was named Mercer County ’ s Teacher of the Year. I received my Masters in Gifted Education in 1982. In 1980, I married John Burton, a BHS graduate from 1965. Our first child, Anna Katherine, was born in August of 1988. In 1989, John and I moved to Johnson County, Kentucky, where we have lived ever since. I was hired as a middle school language arts teacher. In 1990, Christine Elizabeth, our second child was born. Both of our daughters graduated from Johnson Central and became teachers. Anna graduated from Eastern Kentucky University and Christine from Morehead State University. Both have their Masters in Education, and Christine is finishing her doctorate in education at the University of Houston, where she now lives. As to my career in Kentucky, sometimes I am astonished as to how appropriately my prior experiences in Mercer County prepared me for the career I have had here. While in Mercer County, I was in the inaugural Writing Project Summer Institute. While I taught in the county ’ s Gifted Program, Dr. Barbara Jones took me to Michigan to learn about the future problem - solving program. Both of these preparations were essential in preparing me for the next phase of my career. I became the county ’ s Writing Cluster Leader, Middle Grades, and began coaching the academic team, among which was future problem solving. After teaching language arts for twenty years, I became the county ’ s Coordinator for Gifted and Talented. I continued to coach academics, and our middle school team encountered much success. Concerning awards and accolades – again, I have been blessed. Our academic team, which I coached, won 15 state Governor ’ s Cup Championships, more than any other school in Kentucky. We had numerous runner - up finishes and Top Four since 1997. Now to awards: another blessing. I have been named both a Kentucky Colonel and Admiral for my contributions to academic excellence. I am a member of the KAAC Hall of Fame and the Johnson Central Hall of Fame. I2019, I received the Galileo Award, and in 2025 received the Kentucky Legacy Awards.

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