Individual Aspect: Jamie Burnside-Teacher, Baker, Stress Reliever

Most people love a tasty sweet treat, as sugary confections are a huge part of celebrations in our lives from an early age. We look forward to our yearly, or milestone celebrations, when we can commemorate with a cake, cookies, or cupcakes. We all know the baker who makes our favorites, does the designs we all like, and is as sweet as the treats they bake. I was pleasantly surprised when that person for me, turned out to be Jamie Burnside, of Jackson, Ohio.

Jamie has been a part of our lives since 2010, and a great part she has been. Jamie was a kindergarten teacher at the time I met her, but has been teaching 1st grade almost as long as I have known her. It can be a scary or nerve wracking thing, sending your child off to school, but everything I had heard about Jamie as a teacher, was absolutely true, and better! Not only that, but clearly she made a lasting impacting on my then student’s life, so much so, she is still very much a part of it.

With the ever evolving landscape of teaching, and this world, it can prove challenging, stressful, and present as an arduous task at hand. Many teachers are shifting careers, jumping fields of study, or leaving the profession altogether. Fortunately for many of us, Jamie chooses a super constructive way of diffusing her stresses. Instead of choosing the aforementioned options, she is stirring up some goodness to help her through the tougher days, and she is providing delightful, yummy creations to boot!

Jamie started baking, truly, when she made a cake for her niece’s birthday. It was such a great way to contribute to her family’s celebration of a loved one, and it provided Jamie with a deep sense of fulfillment. She hasn’t looked back since, she took her confectionary skills more seriously and learned to perfect the treats she offers. This isn’t to say she thinks her treats are perfect, but to say she developed her flavors, her baking and icing skills, as well as she found her current, preferred style-SIMPLICITY.

Jamie loves to make the people that eat her treats, HAPPY. She wants you to be happy in life, like she does her 1st graders, and her delivery on both does not disappoint. Jamie loves to ice her confections with pastel colors, swirling happiness with sprinkles of sugar. I may have asked her to sprinkle additionally so I could get an amazing shot of her work, but Jamie laughed as she happily sprinkled away! Not only are Jamie’s goodies beautiful, but they really are scrumptious!

Since the pandemic, Jamie has worried that she isn’t doing enough for her students, that her efforts are not making an impact like they used to. She worries about the long term effects her students may face, and whether her impact in her time with them, was enough. Jamie is not alone in her thinking, as many teachers have expressed the same sentiments, and for some, it is proving harder still to get support in the myriad of ways that students and teachers need it. This concern for her students will keep Jamie producing culinary delights, as well as provide happiness in a different avenue for many people in her life. She will keep endeavoring to do her best as an educator, but is glad to have an outlet that keeps her in better balance with stress relieving capabilities.

Jamie is a fantastic teacher, and great baker. Trust me, I have experienced her skills at both. If you are looking for a tasty treat for that special occasion, Jamie may be the person you seek. For those of you that are blessed with having her for your teacher, or as your child’s teacher, never hesitate to tell her the great impact she has had on your life or your loved ones, teachers need our support now, more than ever.