‘I am exactly where I am meant to be’: Maine South High alum returns to teach

When special education teacher Mikaela Burke showed up for her first day of work at Maine South High School last month, she already was quite familiar with the Park Ridge campus.

Just four years ago, Burke was a student at the school.

“It definitely feels like I am back home,” said Burke, 22. “It feels like I am exactly where I am meant to be.”

A 2021 Maine South graduate, Burke returned to her alma mater after earning a bachelor’s degree in special education at Illinois State University this spring.

She co-teaches English and biology classes, supporting students with special needs, and teaches a biology class specifically for students with disabilities.

As the Maine Township High School District 207 staff readied for the 2025-26 term, fellow special education teacher Gaby Goldman told Burke something that’s stuck with her in these early weeks.

“Her advice to me was to remember to have fun and make work a place you enjoy and want to come to everyday,” Burke said. “That is exactly the mindset I want to have.”

Inspired by her brother

Burke always wanted to teach. She was inspired by her brother, who has a genetic disorder and special needs.

“Growing up, he taught me that all students have different learning styles and need different supports to be successful,” Burke explained.

Burke enjoyed her time as a Maine South student. English and algebra were among her favorite classes, and she was on the girls basketball and softball teams.

“Sports were a very big part of my high school experience, and I hope to coach at Maine South in the future,” she said.

Burke first worked in District 207 in summer 2023 as an intern in the extended school year program. That’s where she got to know Goldman, who teaches at Maine West High.

“I was able to support students in many different classrooms and connect with teachers in the district,” she recalled. “I learned a lot from the teachers I worked with that summer.”

Burke wanted to teach full-time at Maine South because she felt her teachers genuinely cared about her and wanted her to succeed.

“That is the kind of impact I want to make as a teacher,” she said.

An ‘amazing’ experience

A few weeks into the new school year, Burke said her experience so far “has truly been amazing.”

“The students and staff have been so friendly and welcoming, which has given me lots of encouragement,” she said.

Most of the teachers Burke had as a student are still on staff at Maine South, including some who inspired her to become a teacher.

“It has been so nice being able to catch up with them,” Burke said. “We have talked about what I have been up to since being in high school, and I have enjoyed hearing about how they have been doing since I graduated.”

Of course, now she gets to call those former teachers by their first names.

“I am still adjusting to (that),” she said.

Curriculum vitae: Mikaela Burke

Age: 22

Residence: Park Ridge

Occupation: Special education teacher at Maine South High School, Park Ridge

Extracurriculars: Make-A-Wish club sponsor

Education: Maine South High School (2021); bachelor’s degree in special education from Illinois State University (May 2025)