By Jon Wheel

When most people hear the name Mr. Burns, they usually think of the evil and selfish leader of the Springfield Power Plant in The Simpsons. But there is another Mr. Burns you should know about. Phoenixville Area High School’s AP Government and Contemporary American History teacher, Mr. Burns, has used a combination of amusing sarcasm and frustrating cliffhangers to become a student favorite here.

Mr. Burns’ desire to become a teacher came well before coming to PAHS as a teacher. He attended nearby Radnor High School, where he met an inspirational teacher who influenced him to become a History teacher, Mr. Holt. He was very passionate and inspirational, not to mention a Vietnam War veteran.

After attending Radnor, Mr. Burns went to Penn State University, main campus. He also looked at major universities, such as the University of Maine, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Maryland. He decided to go to Penn State because of his love of Penn State football and the fact that his brother attended the school as well. After going to Penn State, Mr. Burns went to West Chester University to get his Master’s degree in History. It was after that he was placed here as a student teacher with Mr. Kraynak, who “taught [him] the ropes” and gave him guidance. The fact that Mr. Kraynak let him teach class right away was also helpful. He has now been a full-time History teacher here for 11 years.

If you ever step into Mr. Burns’ classroom, you will quickly notice his fondness for sports, Philadelphia sports to be specific. He has been a fan of Philadelphia sports “as long as [he] can remember,” so it was a huge relief for him to see the Phils bring home a title, since it had been 25 years since Philadelphia had seen a championship. He claims he knew the Phillies would win, saying “they had more desire to win” and “they were more desperate.” Even after the Phillies’ victory, he has not forgotten about the amazing playoff run made by the Eagles.

Outside of school, Mr. Burns does a lot of travelling. Whether it’s a three-hour drive to see a Penn State football game or a lengthy flight across the Atlantic, he spends his summers finding new places to go. “Every summer [he and his wife] try to go somewhere cool.” In class, he tells stories about the distant countries he has visited, which are always interesting. His most recent trip was to Pasadena, California, to see the Rose Bowl, in person. He said it was a beautiful place and an amazing experience. He also hopes to “go back there next year for the national championship,” implying that he expects to see Penn State in the BCS Championship Game next year.

Whether Mr. Burns is threatening to fail you for rooting against his Philly teams, or saying his trademark “you never know,” he is one teacher you will always remember. His goal is to get his students ready for college, and he is doing that…and more. He gets students academically ready for college, but connects with us and makes it easier than any college professor ever could.