Mrs. Kirstin Burrows
My name is Kirstin Burrows and I am excited to have been called by the Lord to be the elementary vocal music teacher at Ankeny Christian Academy. I will share a little about my music background first, then how the Lord called me to Iowa and lastly a little bit about what I believe music does for a student.
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest where music began in kindergarten. I remember dancing around the classroom and letting the music calm and inspire me. In fifth grade I made the choice to join the band on clarinet and that started a journey that has shaped the rest of my life. I have played in band, symphony, marching band, stage band and jazz band. I sang in choir in high school and in college. I have performed music in five European countries. I was blessed to be offered a music scholarship to Seattle Pacific University where I was concertmaster of the band and majored in music education. I did my student teaching in beginning and middle school band, and because of my student teaching I met my husband. My first teaching position was in general music in the Edmonds School district, sadly it was only a one year position as the teacher whose position I was in was taking a year off. After that year my husband and I then went to teach at a school in the state of Nevada . Shortly after we were called to California where I left the teaching field to be a mom and start a photography business, but helped on a regular basis with my husband’s high school band program.
I was saved in 1996 and from the moment I accepted Christ into my life I always felt closest to the Lord when I worshiped him through my music. I have played with many worship groups over the years and they have always brought me great joy. The Lord has guided every part of my teaching journey from my placements for my student teaching to leaving the teaching field for more than the last decade, and now His guiding hand on bringing me to ACA. My husband and I knew from the moment we were called to ACA that this was His plan for our lives.
I was a substitute teacher at ACA for the 2021-2022 school year and I have been very excited to teach our students about the language of music and how we can use that language to praise the Lord. I believe that no matter what a student chooses to do with music in their life; band, choir, orchestra or only a small time in their elementary years in general music it makes them a more rounded person and student. I believe music education connects to the classroom and what the students are learning and helps them learn information through another way. I am honored to be apart of the ACA family and look forward to seeing everyone at our performances.