University of Texas alum Jeff Barker (B.A. Journalism, ‘15), grew up in Los Angeles as a big USC fan. Nevertheless, he had deep ties to the Longhorn Nation—both little and big.
His grandparents Dan and Penny Burck have been an integral part of UT Elementary since it opened. As chancellor for the University of Texas System from 2000-02, Dan, (B.B.A., Business Administration ‘56) was instrumental in conceptualizing and establishing UT Elementary School. He visited often, referring to it as “my school.”
Jeff recalls visiting his grandparents as a teenager and Dan proudly showing him the artwork of Little Longhorns, framed and on display. He would point out the artwork and thank you notes from the students. “He just thought that was the neatest thing in the world,” said Jeff.
Jeff’s grandmother Penny is still very active at the school. She established the prestigious Dan Burck Visionary Award after her husband’s death to recognize other longstanding supporters who have made a remarkable commitment to the school.
When Penny invited Jeff and his wife Jasmine to the From Pre-K to PhD Awards Dinner last April, they were happy to go along. It was a family affair, with Jeff’s mother traveling all the way from California to join.
At the event, Jeff and Jasmine were initially amazed by the Little Longhorn String Orchestra and the students’ talent, but they observed an even larger impact of the school.
“What really hit home for us at the event last year was seeing what the school means to so many people; what the school means to the community,” says Jeff.
This was important to the couple who had settled in Austin and wanted to establish roots in the greater Austin community in significant ways beyond their busy careers and family life. Jeff recently joined the Texas Department of Transportation after seven years as the weekend sports anchor at CBS Austin. Jasmine is Justice of the Peace Program Administrator for the Texas Justice Court Training Center at Texas State University. They saw UT Elementary as the ideal place to start.
To begin, they became members of the Visualize Graduation Society, which is a community of donors who make a five-year giving commitment at a level of $1,000 per year or higher.
Jeff also visited the school soon after the awards dinner, which confirmed his view that UT Elementary really is a special place for education. “That was another really eye-opening experience, to see the kids and the faculty and the staff in action,” explained Jeff.
One student he met that day had just received speech therapy services – a program operated in partnership with Jeff’s UT alma mater college, the Moody College of Communication. The student began quizzing Jeff on misconceptions about people who stutter. “He spoke with a stutter, but it was amazing just to see what the teachers were doing for him and the confidence that that program was giving him to come talk to me, a complete stranger, about the misconceptions he faced.”
The interaction had a profound impact on Jeff, whose brother is a college professor and very involved with the National Stuttering Association. “I thought, wow, this school is doing a lot for its students, and specifically things they need help with,” he said.
For Jeff, his and Jasmine’s support of UT Elementary is part of his family’s legacy. “I want to make sure that people know what my grandfather did for the school, how involved he was, and what the school meant to him. I want to make sure that legacy lives on in whatever way, at whatever stage of my life – whether through giving or donating my time and expertise.”
