Durham school's science center named for Duke official

DURHAM, N.C. — E.K. Powe Elementary School will honor John Burness, who is retiring June 30 from his post as Duke’s senior vice president for public affairs and government relations, by naming the school’s science center for him.

A naming ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at E.K. Powe.

Durham Public Schools Superintendent Carl Harris and E.K. Powe science teacher Treva Fitts will speak at the event, along with several of the school’s students.

The school’s science center will be named for Burness in honor of his leadership in building a strong partnership between Duke and the Durham Public Schools. Burness led a campaign that raised nearly $270,000 for the science center, which opened in 2001.

“John Burness has been one of Durham Public Schools’ very best friends over the past two decades, as he has sought to find ways to deepen and enrich our students’ learning experiences through many different avenues,” Harris said. “Through the years, John has enthusiastically supported our mission by securing untold resources – both human and monetary – with the ultimate outcome being better equipped schools, more fully prepared teachers and increased achievement for thousands of students.”

At Duke, Burness was instrumental in establishing the nationally recognized Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership, through which the university has established partnerships with 12 neighborhoods near its campus and the seven public schools and one charter school that serve them, including E.K. Powe.

Since 1996, Duke has raised more than $16 million through the Neighborhood Partnership to support youth development and K-12 education, affordable housing, community-based health clinics and non-profits serving partner neighborhoods. The partnership also has significantly expanded the number of Duke students, faculty and staff engaged in the life of Durham.