To better improve middle school outcomes, Norman Public Schools has launched an initiative that will allow teachers and staff to better cater to the needs of individual students.

Burns was Longfellow Middle School's teacher of the year in 1993 and was a recipient of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Award of Excellence in 2003.

Whittier Middle School seventh-graders raised over $1,900 for Norman Animal Welfare through creative fundraising efforts as part of a school-wide community service initiative.