Staff Spotlight: Brent Burch - math teacher at Moore Middle School

May 8, 2026

Every week, we shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! This week, meet Brent Burch, math teacher at Moore Middle School.

“Mr. Burch is a true leader for staff and students. Putting others' needs ahead of his own, always smiling and willing to go the extra mile to brighten others’ days.” - Adam Hunt, teacher at Moore Middle School 

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
I'm a sixth grade math teacher at Moore Middle School.

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my 25th year in LPS.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I'm a fifth-generation teacher, only because that's as many generations as we could confidently remember. I saw my grandmother and mom both do AMAZING things in education and wanted to follow suit. I came to LPS because of its great reputation of being a progressive and innovative district.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
The students and staff at Moore are absolutely incredible. They have been welcoming and helpful since before I even started working here. Dr. Gary Czapla is an incredible leader. He's helped build a culture that pushes high expectations with a lot of support along the way. The students and staff make it fun to come to school.

In one word, what makes you proud to work for LPS?
Teachers.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I grew up in Grand Island.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I went to Doane University both for undergrad and to do graduate work. I've got master’s degrees in educational leadership and in curriculum and instruction. I'm halfway through a degree in school counseling. I taught and served as a coordinator at Lux Middle School for 20 years and learned a bunch of things from the amazing teachers there. Getting to serve both as a classroom teacher and a coordinator has allowed me to see education from a different scope and really appreciate the things that teachers do for kids in their classrooms.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I feel like Lincoln really has a commitment to support kids through all stages of their development. I know that getting to families and offering early childhood supports, as well as providing supports through the Backpack Program and so many other areas, has always been a priority for Lincoln Public Schools. I also love what LPS offers for kids in high school who might be interested in diving more into specialized experiences like the Focus Programs or The Career Academy. Lincoln as a whole just seems ahead of the curve when it comes to supporting families in the community and providing fantastic experiences for all who seek them out.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
My grandmother (Grammer) used to read “Alexander's Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day” to me. I probably remember that and poems from Shel Silverstein's “Where the Sidewalk Ends” the most.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
It's hard to pick just one. I've only taught on a couple of teams in my time at Lincoln and they've all been AMAZING– many continue to be very close friends. My friend Ali Arndt at Lux is the one I'll give a shout-out to, though. She's really provided a great example of how to teach to the whole student. She's okay with giving a student a break, knowing that her kiddos in her class are all people who experience their own things from day to day. I watched Mrs. Arndt give a kiddo some space to put his head down because he'd been up most of the night with his dog, who was afraid of thunderstorms. She managed to balance that while teaching a math lesson to 27 kids, and nobody even would have known those conversations were going on. She's just really good at sensing when students are down and providing the support they need.

Do you know a LPS staff member we should feature for Staff Spotlight? Fill out this form to nominate them!

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