Burgio’s experiences bring grace, patience, faith to her classroom

By: Audrey Ramos, Features Editor 

 

Whether the day involves racing to complete an exciting activity around campus or listening to one of her captivating lectures that dives into the history and government of our country, students of Sabrina Burgio are guaranteed an entertaining day when stepping into her classroom.

Burgio teaches U.S. history and government at CCS and is one of the most cherished of the staff. Her understanding and passion bring a natural flow to her classroom and any conversation she is involved in. For 12 years she has been channeling Christ and her dedication to pour into students. 

“Even on rough days, I thank God that I get to do what I do every day, that I can openly discuss my faith and teach history at the same time,” Burgio said.

While looking to leave California to raise her children in a Christ-centered environment, Burgio's husband was severely injured in the line of duty as a SWAT officer and had to retire; this pushed the family to move to Texas. Burgio applied to CCS and was thrilled to be accepted into the Cornerstone community in 2021.

“Sometimes when we ask God for help, the answer may come in a way that is painful at first, but in the end, it was exactly what we needed,” Burgio said. “I had several offers, but I knew CCS was where God wanted me to be.”

Burgio is known to be very understanding and gracious, but these traits didn’t come out of nowhere; her consideration came from her own struggles and times of tribulation. Raised by an atheist mother and agnostic father, Burgio had not been raised in the church. In 8th grade, after her parents separated and her mother refused to take her to church, Burgio took public transportation for two hours to a friend’s church. Eventually, she started going regularly despite the long journey. 

“I kept going because it was a place where I felt welcomed and loved, which was something I really needed at that point in my life,” Burgio said.

At last, her parents reconciled and her father started going to church her. Burgio’s church was hosting a camp, but due to her family’s lack of money, she didn’t even ask her parents to go. Remarkably, someone had paid for her to go and that camp is where she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. After Burgio came back from camp and her parents saw the change in her, they both started going to church with her. Their marriage was strengthened as they accepted Christ. During her junior year of high school, Burgio’s father died of cancer; this struck her down but also strengthened her faith.

“It made me realize that my purpose is to boldly share God’s Word and be willing to go above and beyond for Christ because others need to know him and accept him before it is too late,” Burgio said.

After her father passed, things in Burgio’s life became very difficult. This resulted in her becoming an emancipated minor. In her senior year of high school, she was working to pay her own bills and survive on her own while still in school. During this time, she had a teacher who yelled at her for missing work and absences, making her feel worthless. This experience inspires her to remain patient with her own students.

“Some students may not feel comfortable sharing what is happening in their lives, but they still need to see that they matter,” Burgio said. “When I get frustrated, I go back to that moment and remind myself they are just kids and they have lives outside of school. They may just need a little bit of grace and patience as they go through it.”

Not only does her patience and understanding impact her classroom, but also her creativity. Burgio incorporates gallery walks, warfare simulations and even her own baked goods into her class. 

“I am always excited to go to Mrs. Burgio's class because I know we will have fun activities planned and occasionally brown butter cookies to eat,” junior Evie Pflug said.

Burgio brings her spiritual gifts to the classroom every day, making it easy to connect with students. Teaching can be difficult when working with high school students, but Burgio carries out her role as a teacher with an open heart.

“The biggest thing is listening. God blessed me with an interesting gift; I tend to remember small details about people. I’m not exactly sure how, but I do. I try to use those little details to connect with students by asking questions and showing that I remember things that matter to them,” Burgio said. “I also try to be very patient and slow to anger. Again, I remind myself that I was a kid once.”

Burgio is a vital part of the staff at CCS and is one of the most favored teachers due to her graciousness and entertaining classroom traditions. With Christ leading her life, Burgio is able to be a great educator that constantly inspires her students.

“School is important, but don’t lose focus on what matters most: God, family, and people. We are called to bring people to Christ. If we fill our lives with too many things that we place above God and others, or move too quickly through life, we can miss the small moments where we have the opportunity to show who God is and bring light and joy to others,” Burgio said. “So, my advice, when life is overwhelming and you have tons on your plate, pause for a minute and look around because God is showing you something beautiful every second of every day.”

Photos courtesy Sabrina Burgio