Mary Burns lives on. That’s what third-graders at La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School titled their class paper on heroes. Kindergarten teacher Burns was named class hero for greeting students every morning with a “big smile” at the flagpole, even while she fought cancer.
She was also chosen for her patience with students who couldn’t seem to draw a round Earth shape or read aloud, and needed Mrs. Burns to give them the confidence to graduate to first grade, the class said.
“We would like to be more like Mrs. Burns so that we can make a difference in the world every second of the day,” read the paper.
Mary Katherine (Kawal) Burns died early Saturday morning, Feb. 25, at home after a three-year battle with sarcoma cancer. She was 54 years old.
Burns taught kindergarten for 15 years at LJCD, and recently served as assistant director of the Lower School. Previously, Burns taught at the School of the Madeleine in South Clairemont for three years. She began her teaching career at Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Maryland.
Summer school was the most creative time of the year for Burns, as an entire day would follow one theme throughout snack time, reading and art projects, said Margi Bingham, a close friend and first-grade teacher at LJCD. While reading “Owl Babies,” students dissected owl pellets; and while learning about the moon, snack time featured moon cakes, Bingham said. Burns and Bingham taught summer school together for 13 years.
Burns received the school’s Apple Award for her teaching, and was named teacher-of-the-year twice in the La Jolla Light.
Bingham was quick to point out that Burns was not a saint; she was a prankster with a great sense of humor. On St. Patrick’s Day, Burns would overturn the classroom, sprinkle glitter in the cubbies and then deny that leprechauns exist.
“She’d say that if they ever came to my room, my feet would be green,” Bingham recalled. “Then she would take her shoes off and her feet would be green. She did things like that; she went that extra mile.”
Burns’ humor was undaunted, her family said. When she lost her left arm from the cancer, she changed her computer password to “onearmedbandit.” In the classroom, Burns showed curious students how her prosthetic arm worked.
“The whole school connected with Mrs. Burns just like her family did,” stated the third-grade paper.
Along with her humor, Burns’ faith was steadfast. She served as a lector, grief counselor and Eucharist Minister at Our Mother Of Confidence Catholic Church on Governor Drive. When asked why she didn’t blame God for her suffering, she replied, “I never questioned it when I had my blessings,” Bingham said.
Between 400 and 500 people attended Burns’ memorial service at Our Mother Of Confidence. Family, friends, students, members from her bible study and two book clubs ” even her oncologist ” gathered at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Burns’ favorite charity, Casa de los Pobres, which runs a community outreach center in Tijuana. Mail donations to Casa de los Pobres, 6432 Cardeno Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037.