Leadership Matters September 2013 .pub

school superintendent, all Burgett really ever wanted to be was a teacher. In fact, he continued to teach a class when he became a principal, and he even taught a class he titled “Love, Trust and Success” to high school sophomores when he first became a superintendent at the Elizabeth (now River Ridge) 49th Annual IASA Conference October 9—11, 2013 Click here to register or for more information

Burgett receives gift of inspiration, passes it on ___________________________

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International. He also has authored books including What Every Superintendent and Principal Needs to

Know , The Perfect School , and Teachers Change Lives 24/7: 150 ways to do it right . An inspirational speaker who talks about practical ways to improve schools, Burgett was selected to be the keynote speaker to close the upcoming IASA Annual Conference on October 11. Registration is now open for the October 9- 11 conference at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. Burgett said he will focus on six main items in his presentation titled “Leadership in Challenging Times: Back to the Basics.” The first of those items is transferring ownership of education financing to staff and the community. “Superintendents need to know that the financial crisis now facing schools is

School District. When he became superintendent at Highland, the district was too big for him to continue to teach a class. “I never wanted to be a principal and I never wanted to be a superintendent,” Burgett said. “It was only after a couple of years of being a principal that I learned you could affect the lives of more children by affecting teachers. Then as a superintendent you can affect the principals and teachers. By using your ability to hire, train, evaluate and fire, you can make the system better.” Burgett has a couple of guiding principles. One is a work ethic of doing more and being nicer. Another is to “get over it” regarding moral problems associated with these tough times of leaner budgets

“ We are in these jobs for the reason of making a difference for kids

and to provide them the best educational

opportunities within the parameters we’re given. The same time you are looking at eliminating the negatives, you cannot let them take you off track. It’s about looking into the faces of kids and giving them motivation, excitement about learning and inspiration. ” — Former teacher, principal, award- winning superintendent turned author and speaker Jim Burgett will be the final keynote speaker of the IASA Conference

not their fault, and that it should not distract them from their vision,” Burgett said. “They need to understand it and work within their political and personal spheres to address it, but their main focus needs to remain on their vision to educate children. “This is one of the most challenging yet opportunistic times ever in public education. With all of the current technology, it’s our job to get kids excited about their educational opportunities, to go from doom to zoom.” The other main items Burgett plans to talk about include having a mission, cultivating the board of education, being visible and persistent, eliminating the weakest links, and balancing expectations with compassion. The six steps are what he said “separates the weak from the strong.” Interestingly enough given his success as a

and higher expectations.

“I spoke in Wisconsin after the teachers had their right to bargain taken away. It was all doomsday and blah, blah, blah,” Burgett said. “We are in these jobs for the reason of making a difference for kids and to provide them the best educational opportunities within the parameters we’re given. The same time you are looking at eliminating the negatives, you cannot let them take you off track. It’s about looking into the faces of kids and giving them motivation, excitement about learning and inspiration.” Those words are spoken by a person who received inspiration from a guidance counselor and a teacher that turned a life around and helped create an educator who has spent his career passing the same gift on to another generation of students.

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