After more than a century of JROTC instructors at McKinley High School, Chief Charletta Burke has broken new ground as the program’s first female Instructor.
But what makes her story noteworthy is not just the fact that she is the first woman, it’s the impact she’s making on the program and the lives of the cadets today. Chief Charletta Burke, who served 20 years, said her path to becoming an instructor at McKinley was guided by the desire to give back “I want to inspire and show these kids that where is not where they’ll finish.”
This message resonated with lots of cadets, especially Geraldine Acoba (c/o ‘28), who joined JROTC to honor her mother. “I joined because of my mother, I wanted to give her a better life,” Acoba said. “Seeing Chief as a leader really inspired me and maybe one day I could do the same by leading others how she led me.”
Burke said that making history as the first female instructor at McKinley is an exciting responsibility. She said she hopes to do this position justice. Chief Burke said, “I just want to show girls that we’re still breaking barriers, and when we’re in those spaces, showing up as our true, authentic selves is what makes it so special. If I can do it, you can do it.”
Her example is already impacting young cadets and reshaping the program today. Amara Auro (c/o ‘26), McKinley’s current female battalion leader, resonates a lot with Burke. “For the past few years, the battalion commanders have all been male so now that I’m commander I feel super empowered.” said Auro. “At first I didn’t think I’d make it but looking at other battalions like Farington, Waipahu, and other schools, they also have female commanders.”
Auro also believes that having Burke here brings new representation, perspective, and comfort to the women cadets. “Ever since she started working here, it feels like everyone has gained a mother figure”.
Burke says she leads with a servant’s heart and hopes to instill values that align with that, such as selfless service, integrity, and confidence. She encourages her cadets to embrace who they are and live in their own authenticity. “I don’t want them to feel like they have to be a chameleon,” she said. “Be who you are and learn to be confident in that, because somebody needs who you were created to be.”
Chief Burke may have made history as McKinley’s first female instructor, but also through her contribution to reshaping the program by inspiring cadets and developing future leaders. Looking ahead, Burke says she plans to provide opportunities for both male and female cadets to build their leadership skills, both on campus and in the community. She hopes to continue to raise their confidence and push them to believe that they can do anything. “I just want them to know that whatever space is available, we can fill it.” She said, “The sky’s the limit.”
