In addition to her legislative duties, Rep. Burnett has worked as an educator since 1979. During her 37 years in the education field Rep. Burnett worked as a counselor, teacher, and principal in the Catholic and Independence Public School Systems. Rep. Burnett served on the Kansas City Public School District School Board, the Greater Kansas City United Way Board of Directors, the University of Missouri Extension Council in Jackson County, and has served as Jackson County Democratic Committeewoman for Ward 11 since 2002.

Rep. Burnett was born in St. Louis, and graduated from Webster Groves High school in 1971. She received her Bachelor Degree in Music Education/Music Therapy from the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 1979, and in 1998, a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Avila University in Kansas City. Representative Burnett has lifetime certification to teach elementary and secondary music and as an elementary school counselor in the State of Missouri.

Residents of the Historic Northeast area of Kansas City for more than 35 years, Rep. Burnett and her husband John raised three children and take great delight in visits from their five grandchildren.