Administrator, mom to become principal of Clinton school

By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger

CLINTON — Stephanie Burke, assistant principal at Prince of Peace Catholic School, will move into the role of principal July 1. Principal Joe Brown is retiring.

Brown, a former Iowa state senator, served as principal for two years in addition to teaching an American Government and Economics course for seniors. He believes Burke is the “perfect choice” to serve as principal. “She has historical knowledge of the entire school system in addition to ideas on how to make significant improvements to provide a quality education for each of our students. She has the skills and demeanor to be an outstanding principal.”

Burke has been part of the Prince of Peace community for 12 years and a member of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish since 2013. She taught middle school math and science before moving into administration in 2022. Last year, she earned a Master of Education: Educational Leadership degree from Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa. Burke’s children, Addison, Katherine and Joseph, are students at Prince of Peace.

She cherishes the relationships built with students and their families. “There is no place I would rather be,” she said, noting that her first experience at the school was as a long-term kindergarten substitute. “Those kindergartners are in this year’s senior class. I also had many of them in middle school math and science. They’ve asked me to speak at their graduation ceremony. It’s so special to be able to watch a group of students grow and mature from tiny kindergartners into young adults who are (mostly) ready to take on the world.”

“The school will be in great hands with her leadership,” Brown said.