Jim Burgett

Biography

Jim Burgett is a veteran educator, nationally recognized education speaker, and consultant. He was named the “Illinois Superintendent of the Year” by the American Association of School Administrators and "Administrator of the Year" by the Illinois Association for Educational Office Professionals. Burgett has received numerous honors and recognition for his leadership and skills as a motivator. Jim serves on many boards for the State of Illinois, various professional organizations, the Editorial Board for an educational publisher, and several community organizations.

He is the recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Illinois State Board of Education, was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International, and was a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Illinois.

After earning a B.S. degree in education, with a minor in chemistry, at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Jim earned his M.S. and C.A.S. degrees at Northern Illinois University. Jim has continued his educational training and currently writes and presents Administrative Academies for several states.

Education has been the cornerstone of his career. Jim has been a teacher of grades five through twelve and a principal of elementary, middle school, and high school. During his 38-year tenure, Jim has served as the Superintendent of the Elizabeth Community Unit School District, the River Ridge Community Unit School District, and the Highland Community Unit School District, all in Illinois. Jim retired from the Blue-Ribbon Highland District in 2004.

He has frequently published in professional journals, speaks across the country to a variety of organizations, and has keynoted most major educational conferences in Illinois.

Jim Burgett is known for his practical leadership. He consults many districts, leads strategic planning sessions, and has been a leader in such areas as school construction, administrative standards, and effective teaching strategies.

Jim Burgett's wife, Barbara, is a medical records specialist for a senior citizen service complex in Highland. Jim and Barb have three children and five grand children. Their oldest child is Stacey, is a nurse-administrator at an area hospital. She is married to Brian Zobrist, a medical technician. Stacey and Brian have three children, Rachel, Andrew, and Grace. The second daughter is Jennifer, a former high school Spanish teacher. Her husband Mike is a Regional Specialist for a communications hardware company. Jennifer and Mike have two children, Nick and Paige. The youngest Burgett child is Doug, recently graduated from the University of Illinois as a graphic artist in computers and media.

In addition to being a co-author, in 2003, of What Every Superintendent and Principal Needs to Know, Jim participated in the "Excellence in Education for Superintendents and Principals" report series by writing "How to Handle the Death of a Student, Faculty, or Staff Member" in 2004.



Jim participated in the revising and updating of the second edition of What Every Superintendent and Principal Needs to Know in 2007 and both co-authored the book The Perfect School (with Jim Rosborg and Max McGee) and wrote his own book, Teachers Change Lives 24/7: 150 ways to do it right, all in the same year!

Books

How to Create the Best Staff Possible: Building K-12 Excellence From Hire to Rehire (Focus Book #2)
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 15,380. Language: English. Published: January 18, 2017 by Gordon Burgett. Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Administration / elementary & secondary, Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Administration / school superintendents & principals
Creating the Best Staff Possible (Building K-12 Excellence from Hire to Retire) is In my mind non-negotiable. It's not an option. It's absolutely necessary for a school leader who wants a school of excellence that accomplishes the one universal vision for all schools: "To provide the best educational opportunities possible, within the resources available. Climb aboard--and hold on!
Rights and Responsibilities of School Principals
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 11,730. Language: English. Published: August 11, 2015 by Gordon Burgett. Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Counseling / career development, Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Leadership
Rights and Responsibilities of School Principals answers the question: What is more important for school principals than knowing the principal’s rights and responsibilities in their district? What do others expect of them—others like kids, teachers, parents, the tax-paying public, their superintendent, and the school board? It is condensed from The School Principals' Toolbook...
The School Principal's Toolbook: Building the How-To Path to Excellence:
Price: $19.95 USD. Words: 29,150. Language: English. Published: September 11, 2014 by Gordon Burgett. Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Administration / school superintendents & principals
The eternal, unvoiced plea of every school principal is “HELP!” But who helps the building leaders with everyday answers, encouragement, practical tips, how-to lists, and almost any resource needed so they can continue to lead with joy and passion—and change their students' world? Here's the help in Jim Burgett's The School Principal’s Toolbook:
The Art of School Boarding: What Every School Board Member Needs to Know
Price: $19.95 USD. Words: 49,250. Language: English. Published: September 19, 2013 by Gordon Burgett. Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Administration / school superintendents & principals, Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Organizations & institutions
Forty-year-plus education expert, Jim Burgett, explains to new, veteran, and to-be-elected school board members nationwide the basics of boardsmanship, school governance, and the role of the board, its members, and the administration. On these straightforward, jargon-free pages Burgett explains what every board member has to know, then how it is best done. "Absolutely invaluable..."
How to Handle the Death of a Student, Faculty, or Staff Member
Price: $7.99 USD. Words: 8,510. Language: English. Published: April 13, 2012 by Gordon Burgett. Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Administration / school superintendents & principals, Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Counseling / crisis management
It's inevitable that a school administrator will have to deal with the death of a student, faculty, or staff member at some point during their career, and that each situation will be different in nature and scope. When that happens, there isn't much time to develop a plan or to research options for handling the often complicated situation. So here are guidelines to refer to in that time of need.
Finding Middle Ground in K-12 Education: Balancing Best Practices and the Law
Price: $19.95 USD. Words: 74,530. Language: English. Published: May 20, 2010 by Gordon Burgett. Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Study guides - Education
Brian Schwartz masterfully makes complex K-12 education laws understandable while Jim Burgett magically creates win-win situations. Here, the two prize-winning educators balance best practices and the law in a compelling book that’s full of practicality, reality, humor, and common sense. “It should be required reading by every educator everywhere” is what we hear most.
The Perfect School
Price: $19.95 USD. Words: 62,850. Language: English. Published: May 17, 2010 by Gordon Burgett. Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Study guides - Education
Everybody wants a perfect school, but what does that really mean? That’s what three top award-winning educational leaders from Illinois asked each other, then dug into their areas of strength to answer. The result is their second book, The Perfect School, a no-nonsense look at perfect teachers, perfect staff, perfect parents, and perfect principals, plus a dozen chapters more!
Teachers Change Lives 24/7:150 Ways to Do It Right
Price: $9.95 USD. Words: 47,790. Language: English. Published: May 17, 2010 by Gordon Burgett. Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Teaching
One of Illinois’ favorite educators taps the mind, memory, and heart of every teacher who stands (or stood) in front of a classroom, with wit, humor, wisdom, and immediately usable how-to tips. A loving yet no-nonsense how-to guide that every new teachers needs and every veteran lauds. Unforgettable stories of what always works in the classroom.

Jim Burgett's tag cloud

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