NEW CADDO PARISH SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT KEITH BURTON SETS A NEW TONE!

1. Where did you grow up and tell us about your family growing up?

I grew up outside the city limits of Minden, Louisiana, in a rural area off of Goodwill Road (very close to what is now Camp Minden). My mom was a school teacher in Webster Parish, and my father was a small business owner. I have one older brother, Mike, who is a banker in Minden and lives on the property where we were raised.

2. What public schools did you attend in grades 1-12?

I attended Union Elementary from Kinder­garten through 5th grade and then Doyline High School from 6th to 12th grade. Although it was a small school, we had great teachers and competitive athletic programs.

3. Did you have any part-time jobs while in high school and if so, what were they?

Yes, it was expected that during summers, we had to stay busy. Beginning in middle school, my summers and weekends were filled with cutting, rak­ing, and baling hay. When we weren’t doing that, I worked at a full-service gas station (pumping gas, cleaning windshields, checking the oil and the air in tires.) Working at that gas station taught me a lot about customer service, handling unhappy custom­ers, etc. - an invaluable experience.

We also had around 100 head of cattle on around 90 acres, so there was always something to do whether that was fixing a fence, digging thistles, etc.

4. Where did you go to college, what was your major,, and in what subject is your degree?

I attended Louisiana Tech University and stayed there until I decided to take a summer course at LSU-Shreveport. During that summer, I met Tina Foster and never made it back to Ruston. I com­pleted my Bachelor of Arts degree in education and have never regretted it. LSU-Shreveport prepared me very well.

5. Did you have any part-time jobs in college and if so, what were they?

Yes, during college, I began a decades-long love of officiating sports, and worked calling basketball and baseball - and later added football. This year would have been my 37th year refereeing with the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LH­SAA), and I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ve had the privilege to meet many great friends, worked more than 15 state championship games in basketball and football, and even had the chance to work with my two sons recently, who took up the hobby. I also had miscellaneous jobs at Pioneer Bank (the Home Team!) and LSU-Shreveport.

6. When did you get your master’s degree, from where, and in what course of study?

I received my master’s degree in educational leadership from LSU- Shreveport, focusing on lead­ership and administration. I also completed 45+ graduate hours from Centenary College and LSU-Shreveport.

7. When and where was your first full-time job after college graduation?

My first full-time job after college was at Caddo Parish Schools, where I began as a classroom teacher. I fell in love with the people and families of this district, and I’ve never left. Thirty-three years later the students and families are what keep me coming back. There is no greater or more rewarding job than being an educator.

8. What schools and years were you a class­room teacher and in what subject matters?

I taught at South Highlands Elementary Magnet from 1992 until becoming a principal in the district in 2001. I’ve taught all subjects, but my favorite sub­jects were history and math.

9. When did you move from the classroom to school administration, and what school admin­istrative positions have you held?

After nine years of teaching, I transitioned from the classroom to administration and served as prin­cipal at Fairfield Elementary, South Highlands El­ementary, and Caddo Middle Magnet School. I also was summer school principal at Caddo Heights Ele­mentary, Werner Park Elementary, North Highlands Elementary, and Donnie Bickham Middle School. I served as a principal for 10 years.

10. When did you move to the Central Office, and what positions have you held?

I moved to the Central Office as Chief Academic Officer, overseeing teaching and learning, curricu­lum development, accountability, special education, Title 1, and school improvement initiatives. I have also led efforts to expand STEM (science, technol­ogy, engineering and math) and Career and Techni­cal Education (CTE) programs and developed our Caddo Teaching Academy and Caddo Virtual Acad­emy.

11. What are your thoughts on the long selection process for you as superinten­dent that encountered some opposition by citizens and two school board mem­bers?

The selection process allowed for thorough vetting and community input, which I respect. While there were differing opinions and even some opposition in the process, I don’t take it personally because I believe it stemmed from a desire to ensure the best outcome for the district. I am committed to working col­laboratively with all communities, including those with concerns, to build trust and focus on student success.

12. You became Superintendent on October 1st—what is your top responsibility(ies) and top priority(ies) as Superintendent?

My top responsibilities are to ensure that we cre­ate a student-centered approach across all schools and aligning resources to accelerate academic out­comes. Additionally, the safety and security of stu­dents, staff, and families must be top of mind. My immediate priorities include increasing literacy sup­port, expanding early childhood education, enhanc­ing teacher and principal support, and focusing on ways to be better innovative in finding solutions to district challenges.

13. Tell us about your family and your chil­dren—your wife and children are educators? If so, where?

Yes, my family is deeply involved in education - and have been for generations. As mentioned ear­lier, my mother was a teacher in Webster Parish for 34 years, and my father served on the Webster Parish School Board for 12 years. My grandmother drove a school bus and worked in the cafeteria at Doyline High School, so having family involved in education isn’t something new. My wife is an educa­tor who has taught for 32 years and is at University Elementary. My oldest son is an assistant principal at Donnie Bickham Middle School, while his brother is a teacher at Northwood High School. My daughter is the rookie teacher in the family - beginning her first year as a Kindergarten teacher at University. I’m very proud of all of them and our family’s commit­ment to making a difference in students’ lives.

14. By the end of this year, what goals do you hope to have accomplished as Superintendent?

By the end of this year, I hope to have laid the groundwork for stronger literacy outcomes, devel­oped a robust plan for expanding career and tech­nical education, and reestablished trust through ongoing communication with community members, educators, and parents. I also want to implement key priorities outlined in my first 100 days to guide future budget decisions and policy revisions.