Richard Burns

Dick Burns retired in 2021 after teaching social studies and coaching various teams at GC for over 40 years. “It was a lifestyle. I don’t think I ever viewed it as a job,” Burns says. “Over the years, I think I’ve gained as much as I’ve given.”

Early in his career, Burns had the opportunity to teach college or work for the U.S. State Department, but he chose to teach at GC. He says he knows he made the right choice. When Burns first started teaching, he wanted to change the world and took a firm approach to his students. Over time, his style evolved. “I tried to draw from my students and improve the gifts they were born with to make them better students, to challenge them academically,” he says.

Aside from teaching, Burns coached track and boys slow pitch softball at various time periods, in addition to working with the retreat program, running the school newspaper, and directing summer school. As a coach, he reflects, “students got to know me in a different kind of role, and that probably helped us relate in the classroom.”

Living in harmony was always a very important facet of life at GC, Burns says. As the school became more diverse over the years, it benefitted from a student body composed of a wider range of society. “We tried very hard and I think we were successful in forming a common community,” he says.
In 2019, the Richard Burns Endowed Scholarship was created in his honor. It provides financial assistance to an academically sound, a rising senior who demonstrates their commitment to GC through involvement in athletics, service, or extracurricular activities.

Today, Burns has more than 1,500 connections on Facebook that came from GC. He keeps in touch with many of his former students. “I had lunch recently with an alumnus, Bill Wood, who gave the most outstanding graduation speech I ever heard,” he says.
During retirement, Burns will focus on writing a book. He plans to include stories about himself and his students, events, and people he has known. He also wants to spend more time on one of his favorite hobbies, tennis and will dedicate more time to family and friends.
He is happy when he reflects back on his career. “I’ve learned there’s not one way of doing things for all people. The ability to be flexible and adaptable to the different needs people have is important,” Burns says. “I know my students have made me better, and I hope I have made them better, too.”

Donate to the Richard Burns Endowed Social Studies Scholarship