TIPS Volume 3, No. 1
September, 2002

     Grade Level Key 
     = Elem,  = Middle
     = High, = Teachers

Like a lot of the technical support staff, Mike Burke came to his present position through a rather indirect route. A graduate of Tates Creek High School, he finished a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences at the University of Kentucky in 1981, but now, as supervisor of support staff, network management, infrastructure planning and procurement, the closest thing to a critter in his workday is the occasional virtual one - worms and viri.

Mike is a 19-year veteran of the Fayette County Public School system, joining the staff as a Media Center Clerk for the Life Science Center in 1983. Since then, he's been a printing clerk, and a technology support specialist in data processing, rising to his current position in 1994. Along with his regular duties, he manages the FCPS email system, and monitors Internet and network usage. He is currently involved in a project which has added to the Lexington skyline (see left), and promises to bring much greater Internet access and capacity through wireless networking.

Mr. Burke strongly believes "... in 'the golden rule'…do unto others etc. I frequently make mistakes and admit them freely since I am proud of having the opportunity to learn from them. I resolve each day to do no harm in what I do...I love to solve problems and work out solutions to practical puzzles, [like] figuring out why data can't get from point A to point B." He considers himself an outdoors-type, and looks "...for every opportunity to head to the lake or the woods."

Mike is a can-do technology person - if he can't answer your question, he'll find who can, and takes pride in the speed and attentiveness in which he handles such communication. Serious about his work, he is, however, not above a good joke - in responding to the request for biographical information, he included help for pronouncing his name: Mike Burke (click on both names).