I just found out about the passing of Vic. I am so sorry to hear. I wish I would have known. Vic and I were very close friends until I moved to Texas. During my teenage years she was a rock for me. I could always count on her to help me through anything I was going through. I just wish I could have been there for her. I love you, Vic.

Vicki tutored me from the time I was 10 years old, turning my lack of basic math skills into a solid grasp of calculus before I'd finished high school. She ignited a great love for learning and achievement in me, not just in math, but in academics on the whole, lasting through my college years to today. She enriched my life and I will always think of her as a great friend and inspirational teacher. xoxo to Harriet!

There are ups and downs; there are ins and outs

There are loopty loops; there are screams and shouts

I felt topsy turvy when I heard the news

So I decided to fight against those depressing blues

After all, you have lived a great life and I am happy to say

You have already translated into your brand new, healthy body...HEY HEY!

I took Math Methods from Vicki's friend Pam this summer, and I felt like the classes the two of them prepared didn't leave a thing out. They were both so prepared, and I learned from them how much easier a lesson can be if you have allotted certain amounts of time to certain activities. I knew that Vicki and Pam both really loved teaching math, and I'm so very sorry for her family.

My thoughts and prayers are with Vicki's friends and families at this time of loss. She was such an inspiration so many people.

My Sympathies,

Ann DeLano

Vicki was a MARS person in several of the schools I taught in. She always did such a nice job of relating math to students when she came into a classroom to teach a lesson. When my daughter Jessica needed help with her math, we spent a summer driving to Vicki's house in the country, and it was just the right thing for my daughter to understand the concepts she had been struggling with, and from there on she was more independent and better at math!

Vicki tutored my daughter Amy for 3 1/2 years and helped her tremendously. She was an enormously talented teacher and a good influence/example for Amy. We liked Vicki very much and will miss her. Please accept our condolences for this loss.

What a blessing to know a beautiful spirit like yours, Vicki.

Vicki was a wonderful person who will be missed by all who came in contact with her. She tutored our daughters in Math for many years and became more than a tutor to them - she was a friend who kept in touch with their progress and contributed to what they were able to accomplish later in life. She also bacame our friend and we are deeply saddened by her passing away. We wish to express our sympathies to her family. May her soul rest in peace.

One thing I really appreciated while taking Methods: Elementary School Mathematics with Dr. Vicki Burketta was that she modeled for us the way mathematics should be taught in an elementary school classroom. One of my aspirations is to push my students to recognize the value of their contributions and the power of conceptual thinking. Before taking Dr. Burketta's class I was afraid of math. I didn't think I was good at math and I didn't have a clue of how I might teach it. There were times that I struggled, but I learned that it was okay to make mistakes because those mistakes were a natural result of exploration.

I'm interested in teaching because I want my students to find personal connections with all academic areas. It wasn't until taking Dr. Burketta's course that I felt comfortable answering a math question if I wasn't sure that the answer was correct. I want my students to feel comfortable risk-taking in elementary school so that when they reach high school and college, they will see the value of conceptual thinking.

I decided I wanted to be a teacher based on seeing a great teacher my dad. I am continually inspired by great teachers, like Dr. Burketta and others, who have shown me that learning isn't a process that simply occurs by reading textbooks, but something that comes from experiences and solving problems.

I feel so fortunate to have had the privilege of learning from Dr. Burketta. I will use the resources she gave me throughout my teaching and will remember her class as one of the best experiences in my university career. She will be missed.

No one who met Vicki will ever forget her. As a college professor, she was tough, hilarious, and so compassionate. I was 32 years old when she helped me take my first steps towards understanding math. She gave me the ability to believe in myself and I will always be grateful.

Vicki was my elementary math methods professor and changed my viewpoint on liking and teaching math. Though she was going through a lot she was always in class, always cheerful, and always there with a smile. I will always remember her even though I was only in her class for 3 weeks. I send my sincere condolences and thoughts to her family.

Vicki was my Math Methods professor at the University of Iowa and she changed my life more than she would ever know. I never felt comfortable with doing math, let alone teaching it, and she wouldn't let me accept defeat. She pushed me harder than any teacher I ever have, working through the night to help with my lessons, even calling me and talking me through things. Every student she ever had she has touched, and I send my deepest condolences to her family.

Vicki was a tremendous blessing to my daughter, Ellie. She tutored Ellie on math for the ACT, raising Ellie's score by 7 points. Thanks to Vicki's guidance, I saw my daughter's confidence grow and her horizons widen. Perhaps more importantly, Vicki set an example of how to be a strong, smart, caring woman, even in the face of her health challenges. She inspired others to do their best. I will be forever grateful our lives crossed paths with hers.

Our son and Zak Louret were childhood friends and Tyler went to Vickie's home for many annual Christmas Party's. He was always so excited to go and brought home many shirts made at or for the party as well as other things they made. He is a young adult and still has every item they made in those years. He loved Vickie and cherished the memories of times spent in her home. He still calls her "Aunt Vickie". Yes, he thought she was one of the smartest women he every met and would tell us so frequently.

I feel so fortunate to have learned from Dr. Burketta. From the moment I met her, I knew she would be so much more than a teacher to all of us. Not only did she teach content, but she also taught by example how to be a good person, as it was clear to all who met her that she never settled for anything less than her best. During a time that I was facing my own personal struggles, she pushed me to reach my potential and showed me how much you can accomplish with passion and hard work. I knew she supported me and had my back when it sometimes felt that not many others did. I believe with all my heart that the impact she has made on all who knew her will continue to be seen for generations to come. My deepest sympathies go out to her family and friends. Dr. Burketta, you will be dearly, dearly missed.

Vicki was my professor and student teaching facilitator at the University of Iowa last year. She was an amazing teacher and introduced me to an entirely new way to teach mathematics. Her dedication to her students and love of math and life was evident in her classroom. I consider myself extremely lucky to have had Vicki as a teacher and mentor. She will be missed.

Vicki introduced me to the world of math at a time when math seemed nearly impossible. She showed me that I could do anything as long as I worked hard and put my best foot forward. Vicki was incredibly patient during our math sessions and I never left without fully understanding the lesson. A weekly visit to Vicki's was part of my childhood and I continued to visit whenever I came home from college. I loved playing with her puppies, looking through her Mickey Mouse collection, and sharing jokes with her. It was always so exciting to show her a good math score from a test she helped me study for. She was not only a teacher, but a great family friend. She will be deeply missed.

I first met Vicki last summer as a student in the College of Ed. Her passion for math and her boundless energy made that three-week class an amazing experience. I'm proud to say that everything I learned about math education, I learned from Vicki. As I begin my teaching career, I know that I'll think of her (and Mickey!) every time I plan a math lesson. She will be greatly missed!

Vicki empowered my children through her tutoring. She was gifted with energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. She also had a fundamental belief that every child can learn math. She understood that children learn in different ways, and she helped validate each child's strengths while helping them develop strategies and tools for learning. Weekly sessions with her were something my kids looked forward to, sometimes as much for the new puppies and Mickey Mouse items as for the math. Learning with Vicki was positive, challenging, and often fun. What a great teacher she was!

Vicki was more than a mentor to me, she was my light. She guided me through life decisions and helped me become the strong teacher I am today. Her faith in God strengthened my faith and I will never forget her scriptures written all over her fridge. I'm praying God takes care of one of his most precious angels. You will be forever missed, but will live on in the hearts and minds of all your students and co-workers.

I've never met a person like Vicki. She is the most caring, selfless person I have ever known. She truely cared about every person in her classes (both as a learner and as a person). She was the best role model for being a life long learner. She taught me so much in the short time I knew her. I can only hope to be a fraction of the teacher she was. I will always carry what I learned from Vicki with me. Thanks for everything you did for everyone Vicki. You sure will be missed lady!

Vicki, the College of Ed misses you deeply. What a wonderful teacher you were!

Although I only knew her briefly, I adored her. You will be missed dearly!!

Vicki was my professor while I was in the education program at Iowa. She taught me so many lessons, both educationally and personally. She was a teacher who truly cared about her students' success and helped shape the way I teach my own students. She will be missed by many.

Vicki, I remember so many things about you. Your MIcky Mouse collection, your crazy dogs, your IN HOME copy machine before computer printers where everywhere...HA! But mostly what I remember is your kind heart and amazing talent in guiding lost little math souls like myself. You taught me that I COULD do the math I thought was so impossible. You believed in me. You showed me that I was fully capable of doing whatever I set my mind to, one way or another. You were one of the most powerful and positive teachers in my life.

Our family sends sincere condolences to Vicki's family and friends. We have loved being neighbors and exercising our dogs daily between the fence. We all miss you so much!! Love Denise, Derek, Kayla, Kesha, Summer and Kacee

My sincere condolences to Vicki's family and friends. Had it not been for her, I probably wouldn't have passed my math courses in junior high and high school. She made learning math fun for me, and I also enjoyed playing with her sheep dogs while she tutored me at her home.

May Vicki rest in Peace. My condolences to family and friends: May you be comforted and be strengthened in this hour of remembrance. May God give you the strength to cope. Remain Blessed.

I got to know Vicki through her math tutoring program. I went to her house once a week during the school year throughout junior high and high school, usually with one of my good friends.

Vicki was a great inspiration to me as a student at Iowa. She taught me that my passion for teaching will carry over in my student's love for learning. The College of Ed. at Iowa will certainly be missing a great professor!

Vicki touched so many lives, including mine, in such a positive way. I knew her for only a short time, but she taught me that it's quality, not quantity that matters when somebody moves your heart.

My deepest condolences are with Vicki's family and friends at this time, and she will stay in my thoughts always.

I imagine, as Harriet once said, that somewhere Mickey is shedding a few tears of his own...

XOXO

Sara

I worked for Vicki on a part-time basis from Jan.2009 to present. She was very talented at teaching others how to teach. Vicki will be greatly missed by the math ed community in Iowa City.

I started at Solon 13 years ago. Vicki helped us write our Standards and Benchmarks. I took many a class she taught at Grantwood AEA. She was a great resource and caring person.

My own kids will always remember the "Mickey Mouse Lady" with a smile and I will always remember how much they learned from Vicki and how much I learned! We will miss her!

I miss you already, but when the sadness subsides, many, MANY wonderful memories will move to the fore. My life is better because of knowing you, and that's something I will carry with me forever, and "pay forward" to others in need of the kindness, laughter, and wisdom you have shared with me.