For 25 years, Bellevue Sunrise Rotarian James Burke has been shaping young minds in the classroom at Tyee Middle School in Bellevue, Washington. A dedicated educator in STEM and Career & Technical Education (CTE), Burke teaches courses ranging from Flight and Space to Robotics, Design and Production, and Applied Engineering. His work equips students not only with technical skills, but with the confidence to explore, build, and innovate in an increasingly complex world.
Burke’s impact extends far beyond the walls of his classroom. For more than 19 years, he has served as Executive Director of the Afro-Caribbean Technology Exchange (ACTE), an international nonprofit committed to expanding access to technology education for women, teachers, and students across the African Diaspora. Through ACTE, Burke has invested countless voluntary hours on the ground in underserved communities in Jamaica, helping to bridge the digital divide with both equipment and training.
Most recently, Burke’s leadership has been instrumental in Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in Jamaica, where severe storms caused widespread damage to schools in Hannover and Westmoreland parishes last October. With support from Bellevue Sunrise Rotary, Burke traveled to the region to deliver critical resources and begin rebuilding efforts. Among the immediate needs were reliable power and basic classroom supplies—needs Burke moved quickly to address. He delivered diesel generators to restore electricity, ensured teachers had sufficient dry erase markers to complete the school year, and secured 55-inch monitors to enhance classroom instruction and modernize learning environments.
Understanding that long-term progress depends on connectivity, Burke is also working to bring Starlink satellite internet to these schools, where traditional wired service is unavailable. While initial efforts were delayed due to account limitations in Jamaica, progress is underway, and connectivity is expected to follow—opening new doors for students and educators alike.
During his recent Jamaican visit, Burke also spent time in the classroom of Rotary funding recipient, Ms. Needham, delivering much-needed supplies and reinforcing ACTE’s commitment to supporting educators directly. With the backing of partners via ACTE these efforts have been, in Burke’s words, “cool runnings”—steady, positive progress rooted in collaboration and purpose.
Whether teaching in Bellevue or rebuilding classrooms abroad, James Burke exemplifies Rotary’s ideal of Service Above Self. His work reminds us that education is not confined by geography—and that one person’s commitment can spark opportunity across the globe.
