From launching Sault Ste. Marie’s first robotics team to helping hundreds of students graduate with real-world certifications, Steve Burmaster has spent decades reshaping education in our community.
Burmaster began his career teaching Manufacturing Technology at Korah Collegiate & Vocational School, where he quickly gained a reputation for being the kind of teacher who pushed students to aim higher.
He believed education wasn’t just about classroom lessons, but about opening doors to careers, to new technologies and to possibilities students might never have considered.
After watching a robotics demonstration at a science fair, he knew it was something his students needed. With that spark and with the help of several colleagues, he launched Sault Ste. Marie’s first high school robotics team.
Under his leadership, the team not only competed locally but formed an international partnership with students in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Together, they advanced all the way to the World Robotics Competition in Atlanta. Several of those students went on to become tradespeople, engineers, business owners and one student even went on to work for Google.
Additionally, Burmaster introduced Lego Robotics programs in elementary schools across the Algoma District School Board, ensuring kids were engaging with technology from an early age. He partnered with Sault College to host competitions, drawing schools from across the district and even as far as Sudbury.
Burmaster was a lifelong advocate for careers in the trades, encouraging our youth, parents and young women to learn more about joining the trades workforce.
He implemented the first Specialist High Skills Major for the Algoma District School Board, which provided opportunities for students to focus on specific careers and gain industry-recognized certification and experience.
Most recently, he was the Cooperative Education Special Assignment teacher and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship program coordinator for the Algoma District School Board.
He built strong partnerships with local businesses and industries, opening doors for students to explore future career paths. Many went on to become apprentices, with some even completing their Level One apprenticeship training before finishing high school.
His decades of dedication, innovation and unwavering belief in students have earned him this year’s Education Award for the SooToday Community Builders Awards, presented by Heritage Home Hardware.
“This tells me that I’ve been part of some great teams that have helped students decide on their career paths and improve their self-confidence,” Burmaster said when he was told about his award win.
“Working with students and then getting to meet them later on in life and seeing where they are, and thinking that perhaps I had a part in that pathway is always a very proud moment for me,” he shared.
“I love what I’ve been able to do over the years and I love helping people,” Burmaster added. “To have been able to call that my job and now being recognized with this award is amazing.”
Steve Burmaster’s passion for teaching and his belief in the potential of every student have shaped futures, strengthened industries and built a brighter path forward for Sault Ste. Marie.
The Education award honours a student, educator, administrator or education advocate who has significantly contributed to the advancement of education in the community. This may include an outstanding teacher who has profoundly influenced the lives of their students, an administrator who has pioneered the establishment of a specialized program or an advocate whose efforts have driven lasting positive change within our local schools.
Congratulations, Steve!
The Education Award is proudly sponsored by Tenaris.