Influenced by a high school mathematics teacher who celebrated the practicality and benefits of mathematics education, Dr. Catherine L. Burns is highly regarded as a mathematics educator in her own right. Since 2023, she has served as a mathematics, business and accounting educator within the Cleveland Independent School District. As part of her routine responsibilities, Dr. Burns teaches financial mathematics courses and takes great pride in guiding high school students through their academic journeys. Alongside her teaching duties, she grades papers, attends meetings, and researches developments in accounting to supplement her teaching and expertise.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Burns served in numerous roles related to academia. A former tax researcher at Northcentral University from 2015 to 2019, she also served as an algebra, geometry and path courses teacher within the Spring Independent School District from 2014 to 2015, an adjunct accounting faculty member at Lone Star College from 2009 to 2014, and an adjunct developmental mathematics faculty member at San Jacinto College in 2009. Likewise, she served as an algebra, geometry and pre-calculus teacher within Huntsville Independent School District from 2007 to 2008, an algebra teacher within the Klein Independent School District from 2006 to 2007, and an algebra, geometry and SAT preparation teacher at the Juan B. Galaviz Charter School from 2005 to 2006. Moreover, Dr. Burns excelled as an adjunct accounting faculty member at North Harris College from 2002 to 2005 and an adjunct accounting principles I faculty member at San Jacinto College in 2002. She commenced her career in 1998 as a teaching and research assistant at the University of Houston, remaining there for three years.
Adjacent to her primary career responsibilities, Dr. Burns has been a tax preparer and consultant, having served Conroe, Texas, from 2015 to 2020 and again from 2022 to 2023. In 2017, she was a tax preparer at Clayborn Enterprises, having formerly served in the same capacity with an international focus at Brenner & Elsea-Mandojana LLC from 2013 to 2014. Furthermore, Dr. Burns was a federal accounts bookkeeper within the Splendora Independent School District from 2009 to 2011 and a tax preparer with Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. from 2009 to 2010.
Dr. Burns is pursuing her CPA certifi cation, which she aims to achieve in the next few years. She also possesses many professional credentials, including a Doctor of Philosophy in business administration and an advanced accounting specialization from Northcentral University, which she earned in 2019. Notably, her doctorate has allowed her to delve deeper into research, applying her knowledge to her work and shaping her approach to education. She is also a valued member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and was honored as an Outstanding Coach by the Accounting Society during her graduate studies. Looking ahead, Dr. Burns endeavors to pursue additional research opportunities while cementing her legacy as an esteemed classroom educator.