Burger, Mary Louise Hirsh

Born November 3, 1932, Chicago, Illinois. Early childhood education expert; Professor. Mary Louise Hirsh Burger was born November 3, 1932 in Chicago to Robert Stanley Hirsh and Margaret Agnes (Brennan). She married William Bronson Burger on March 16, 1968. Burger received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mundelein College (1954) and her Master of Education degree from Loyola University Chicago (1957). She was awarded her Doctor of Education degree from Northern Illinois University (1972). Burger taught in the Chicago Public School System between 1954 and 1968 and served for six years on NCATE, part of the time as Chair of the Constitution Committee of the Executive Board. In 1968, Burger joined the faulty of Northeastern Illinois University. She was professor in the Department of Childhood Education from 1968 to 1973, serving as Chairperson from 1972-1980. From 1986-1995 she was Early Childhood Coordinator in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. After 1985, she was a professor in the Department of Teacher Education/International-Intercultural. Other professional experiences include working as a psychologist for Worthington, Hurst and Associates (1972-1974), Owner/Director Childhood Education Center, Evanston, Illinois (1974-1985), and Educational Counselor, Burger Associates, Ltd., Schaumburg Illinois, from 1983 on. Burger was deeply involved in the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI). She served the organization in many facets including several committees (such as the Infancy Committee, the Teacher Education Committee, as Co-Chair of the ACEI/Children's Book Council Committee (1981), as Vice-President and member of the Executive board between 1983-1986, and as President between 1988-1992.