History of the
Kenneth Burdett School of the Deaf
Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Published in 2011
Updated in 2024
Published in 2011
Updated in 2024
Author's Note
It was a tremendous honor to be a part of the 2011 school naming process, which aimed to pay tribute to the contributions made by Kenneth C. Burdett to the Utah School for the Deaf. Trena Roueche, former Associate Superintendent of the Utah School for the Deaf, deserves immense appreciation for her meticulous work conducting the school name through the ballot and preparing for the ceremony event in honor of Kenneth C. Burdett. I would also like to thank Michelle Tanner, then teacher of the Jean Massiue School of the Deaf, for her invaluable role in referring Trena to me for name recommendations.
My personal connection with Kenneth, whom I was fortunate enough to meet once at my wedding reception in 1999, made this tribute even more bittersweet. The stories shared by my father-in-law, Kenneth L. Kinner, a former student of Kenneth Burdett, and Ron Burdett, Kenneth Burdett's son and my college instructor, deeply touched me. Meeting Kenneth before his passing in 2000 was a profound moment that eventually led to the school naming him, a gesture that reflects his long service and contributions to the Utah School for the Deaf as a student and staff member. We will always remember and cherish Kenneth C. Burdett's significant contributions to the Utah School for the Deaf, leaving behind a legacy for us to remember him by.
Thank you!
Jodi Becker Kinner
My personal connection with Kenneth, whom I was fortunate enough to meet once at my wedding reception in 1999, made this tribute even more bittersweet. The stories shared by my father-in-law, Kenneth L. Kinner, a former student of Kenneth Burdett, and Ron Burdett, Kenneth Burdett's son and my college instructor, deeply touched me. Meeting Kenneth before his passing in 2000 was a profound moment that eventually led to the school naming him, a gesture that reflects his long service and contributions to the Utah School for the Deaf as a student and staff member. We will always remember and cherish Kenneth C. Burdett's significant contributions to the Utah School for the Deaf, leaving behind a legacy for us to remember him by.
Thank you!
Jodi Becker Kinner
Kenneth C. Burdett
HONORING NAME OF THE SCHOOL
AFTER KENNETH C. BURDETT
AFTER KENNETH C. BURDETT
On August 23, 2011, the North Division officially renamed the ASL/English bilingual program as the Kenneth C. Burdett School of the Deaf, honoring Kenneth C. Burdett, a significant figure in the history of the Utah School for the Deaf. Trena Roueche, the Associate Superintendent of the Utah School for the Deaf, had previously decided that the North Division program should have a different name. She and others in the program believed that naming it after a Deaf person would help students build a connection to Deaf culture and community, ultimately strengthening their identity as Deaf individuals.
Michelle Tanner, a teacher at Jean Massieu School of the Deaf, referred me as a community historian to Trena so I could collect the history of the Utah School for the Deaf and gather biographies of prominent Deaf Utahns. When I shared this news with my father-in-law, Kenneth L. Kinner—a former student of Kenneth C. Burdett—he was thrilled at the idea of naming the North Division after someone who is Deaf. "Why not Kenneth C. Burdett?" he suggested. Excited by this idea, I immediately encouraged Trena to put his name on the ballot.
Following the naming process, the Utah School for the Deaf community voted on three names: Kenneth C. Burdett, Henry C. White, and Elizabeth Mary Wood. The school's past and present administrators, parents, and students selected these individuals. We selected each based on their significant contribution to the education of Deaf students in Utah. As a result, Kenneth C. Burdett, in particular, received the most votes overall, a testament to the profound impact of his work.
Michelle Tanner, a teacher at Jean Massieu School of the Deaf, referred me as a community historian to Trena so I could collect the history of the Utah School for the Deaf and gather biographies of prominent Deaf Utahns. When I shared this news with my father-in-law, Kenneth L. Kinner—a former student of Kenneth C. Burdett—he was thrilled at the idea of naming the North Division after someone who is Deaf. "Why not Kenneth C. Burdett?" he suggested. Excited by this idea, I immediately encouraged Trena to put his name on the ballot.
Following the naming process, the Utah School for the Deaf community voted on three names: Kenneth C. Burdett, Henry C. White, and Elizabeth Mary Wood. The school's past and present administrators, parents, and students selected these individuals. We selected each based on their significant contribution to the education of Deaf students in Utah. As a result, Kenneth C. Burdett, in particular, received the most votes overall, a testament to the profound impact of his work.
Kenneth C. Burdett, a 1929 Utah School for the Deaf Senior
Kenneth L. Kinner
Kenneth L. Kinner, a 1954 graduate of the Utah School for the Deaf and a former student of Kenneth C. Burdett, is recognized for his thoughtful recommendation. We also honor Kenneth C. Burdett, who was Kenneth Kinner's favorite teacher, for his unwavering dedication to the Utah School for the Deaf. His remarkable career spanned from 1934 to 1974, another testament to his deep commitment to the school. The close friendship between these two individuals also exemplifies the strong bonds formed at our school and in the Utah Deaf community.
Kenneth C. Burdett spent fifty-two years at Utah School for the Deaf as a student, boy's supervisor, head basketball coach, athletic director, teacher, printing instructor, and curriculum coordinator.
On September 29, 2011, the Utah School for the Deaf held a plaque-hanging ceremony in memory of Kenneth C. Burdett. Ronald, his wife, Joyanne, and his sister, JoAnn, shared touching memories of their father. The plague and a portrait of Kenneth are now on display in the hall at the Kenneth C. Burdett School for the Deaf. His name will live on in history (Becker-Kinner, UAD Bulletin, December 2011).
Kenneth C. Burdett spent fifty-two years at Utah School for the Deaf as a student, boy's supervisor, head basketball coach, athletic director, teacher, printing instructor, and curriculum coordinator.
On September 29, 2011, the Utah School for the Deaf held a plaque-hanging ceremony in memory of Kenneth C. Burdett. Ronald, his wife, Joyanne, and his sister, JoAnn, shared touching memories of their father. The plague and a portrait of Kenneth are now on display in the hall at the Kenneth C. Burdett School for the Deaf. His name will live on in history (Becker-Kinner, UAD Bulletin, December 2011).
Kenneth's Devotion to the
Utah School for the Deaf Throughout His Life
Utah School for the Deaf Throughout His Life
During the 25th Biennial Convention of the Utah Association for the Deaf in 1973, Dr. Jay J. Campbell, the Deputy Superintendent of the Utah State Office of Education, delivered the keynote address titled "Humanizing Education." Kenneth was well-known for his support of the Utah Deaf community. Kenneth and his former students attended the event and expressed their gratitude for Dr. Campbell's advocacy for their cause. Throughout his career, Kenneth has consistently committed to and exemplified the philosophy of humanizing education (UAD Bulletin, June 1973; Ronald & Joyanne Burdett, personal communication, 2011).
Kenneth C. Burdett at Gallaudet College, 1929-1934
Kenneth devoted his career to the Utah School for the Deaf with selflessness and passion. He served in various roles at the school for over fifty-two years, starting as a student and later as a boy's supervisor, head basketball coach, athletic director, teacher, printing instructor, and curriculum coordinator. He was a member of several organizations, including the Utah Association for the Deaf, the National Fraternal Society for the Deaf, and the Golden Spike Athletic Club for the Deaf (The Ogden Standard-Examiner, May 23, 1974).
Throughout his long and successful career, Kenneth will be remembered for his inspiring leadership, unwavering support for student athletics, and deep affection for his students. He was an exceptional teacher and coach who motivated both his students and colleagues (The Ogden Standard-Examiner, May 23, 1974; Kenneth L. Kinner, personal communication, 2006).
Dr. Robert G. Sanderson and Valerie G. Kinney recognized Kenneth's remarkable qualities, describing him as a brilliant teacher and coach. Those whose lives he touched will always remember and celebrate his contributions to the Utah School for the Deaf (Dr. Robert G. Sanderson & Valerie G. Kinney, personal communication, July 8, 2011).
Throughout his long and successful career, Kenneth will be remembered for his inspiring leadership, unwavering support for student athletics, and deep affection for his students. He was an exceptional teacher and coach who motivated both his students and colleagues (The Ogden Standard-Examiner, May 23, 1974; Kenneth L. Kinner, personal communication, 2006).
Dr. Robert G. Sanderson and Valerie G. Kinney recognized Kenneth's remarkable qualities, describing him as a brilliant teacher and coach. Those whose lives he touched will always remember and celebrate his contributions to the Utah School for the Deaf (Dr. Robert G. Sanderson & Valerie G. Kinney, personal communication, July 8, 2011).
Kenneth C. Burdett, a curriculum instructor, oversees the concurrent academic department at the Utah School for the Deaf. Source: The UAD Bulletin, Summer 1968
USD Teachers and Administrators. Source: The Utah Eagle, May 1938
Teachers, principal, and superintendent of the Utah School for the Deaf assembled on the steps of the Main Building, 1947. Kenneth C. Burdett is on the right side of the second row. Source: UAD Bulletin, Summer 1969
Kenneth C. Burdett standing on the back row on the left side at the Utah School for the Deaf in the 1950s
Kenneth and his Utah School for the Deaf students, 1953-54
Kenneth teaching math at the Utah School for the Deaf in 1960
____, Kenneth Burdett, Kenneth Kinner at the Utah School for the Deaf in the 1950s
Kenneth C. Burdett with his students goofing around at the Utah School for the Deaf in the 1940s
Kenneth C. Burdett's professional life spans at the Utah School for the Deaf from 1934 to 1974
Kenneth teaching algebra at the Utah School for the Deaf in 1954
____, Eleanor Kay Kinner, Kenneth Burdett, Kenneth Kinner, ____, _____ at the Utah School for the Deaf in 1953-54
First Row L-R: Ronald Forbush, Rollin Jones, Robert Bonnell, Max Hardy. Second Row L-R: Jay Christensen, Keith Stewart, Roy Milburn, Lynn Losee, Raymond Valencia. Back Row L-R: Tommy Lewis, Von Jones, Jackie Imhoff, Kenneth Burdett, Bruce Harvey at the Utah School for the Deaf in 1955
Kenneth C. Burdett setting up the printing machine at the Utah School for the Deaf
Kenneth C. Burdett and his M-Men basketball team of the Ogden Deaf Branch, 1943-44. Coach Kenneth C. Burdett (Center). Clockwise bottom: #2 Peter Koukoutsakis, #9 Lloyd Perkins, #7 Kirk Allred, #7 Mike Pallerakis, #2 Merrill Bauer, #3 Bruce Eyre, #5 Melvin Sorensen, #4 Paul Loveland, #8 Lyle G. Mortensen, #9 Tony Jealco, and #6 Sam Judd
Students went boating with Kenneth and Afton Burdett, Deaf teachers at
Pineview Reservoir, 1953. Standing L-R: Kay Kinner, Marion Brown,
Bruce Harvey, Dixie Lee Larsen, Afton Burdett, Kenneth Burdett, Max
Hardy, Donna Mae Dekker, Leon Curtis, Von Jones, Lawana Simmons.
Sitting L-R: Kenneth Kinner and Ronald Burdett
Kenneth C. Burdett at the 1976 Utah School for the Deaf reunion
'The Utah School for the Deaf Would Like to Announce The Dedication of Our New Kenneth C. Burdett School of the Deaf.'
Ron, his wife, Joyanne and his sister, JoAnn at the dedication of the new Kenneth C. Burdett School of the Deaf
A Slideshow of Kenneth C. Burdett's
Honoring Ceremony
September 29, 2011
Honoring Ceremony
September 29, 2011
Photos taken by Jodi Becker Kinner
