Hello My Name Is...

Ryan Burns (Mr. Burns).  I am so excited to be your child’s fourth grade teacher this year and look forward to a year full of excitement and learning!
This is my 9th year teaching and 4th year at Calvin Donaldson where I started as a Sub in 2019.  Donaldson is an amazing place! I truly enjoy being around such enthusiastic students, staff, and parents.  
I moved to Chattanooga in 2018 after 25 years in Colorado.  I have a 23 year old son living his adult life in Colorado and an 11 year old daughter attending 5th grade this year in this amazing district.
I graduated from Illinois State University in 1994 with a degree in Geology.  I went on to earn a Master’s Degree (MBA Masters in Business Administration)  I then ran steel mills across the country for 15+ years, but my passion was always working with kids as a coach and mentor, so I went back to school to earn my Masters in Elementary Education and have been teaching ever since.
In my spare time  I like to volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of America, Coach Baseball and Basketball Kids Sports and attend my student’s events and games.  **(Yes my spare time is with kiddos and I love it)**
I promote an atmosphere of safety, trust, and respect in my classroom.  I work hard to create a sense of community and build teamwork among the students.  Thank you for trusting me with your most prized possession.  I am looking forward to building a long-lasting relationship with you and your child.