DR. EDNA KENNEDY RETIRING AS BURTON ISD SUPT.
Burton ISD is set to embark on a search for a new superintendent, as current Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy is retiring.
Tuesday's State of the Community Forum,
is retiring as Burton ISD Superintendent.
The Burton School Board on Tuesday approved a voluntary retirement agreement with Dr. Kennedy and decided to move forward with Powell Law Group to conduct the superintendent search.
Dr. Kennedy has served as Burton ISD’s superintendent since 2015 and has 39 years of experience in public education. A press release provided by the district said she looks forward to the next chapter of her life with future opportunities to spend more time with family.
According to the release, Dr. Kennedy’s last day was Tuesday, March 19th, but she will remain an employee of the school district until June 30th, which is when her contract expires.
Following approval of the retirement agreement, trustees handed Dr. Kennedy a card, and they all exchanged thanks before she exited the board room.
Discussion then quickly moved on to the incoming superintendent search. The board met for an hour with Dr. Danny Lovett, a consultant and senior public policy advisor with Powell Law Group. Dr. Lovett walked through the services the firm provides and helped the board craft its ideal candidate profile.
Dr. Lovett said Burton ISD is right inside the firm’s wheelhouse in terms of size. He reiterated that while Powell Law Group will handle the calling of candidates, scheduling of interviews and reference checks, it will remain impartial through the process. He said the board will see all applications submitted and retain control over who is interviewed and ultimately selected for the role.
The superintendent’s job posting will go up on the websites of Texas ISD and the Texas Association of School Administrators. Dr. Lovett said the most condensed timeline would have applications due by April 19th, interviews starting April 29th and a lone finalist named on May 10th before they start on June 3rd. However, an audience member reminded him that the school board is set to hold an election this spring, which could result in some elected trustees not being involved in the search. Dr. Lovett said the board can choose to follow whatever timeline it prefers.
The board then went into executive session to discuss naming an interim superintendent. Afterwards, the board moved to offer the interim position to Rob Barnwell, a retired superintendent from Jefferson ISD who was recommended by Powell Law Group. According to Board President Jeff Harmel, Barnwell plans on accepting the role.
Full press release below from Burton ISD:
After 9 years of service to the Burton ISD community and 39 years in public education, Dr. Edna Kennedy announced she will retire after 20 very successful years as Superintendent in Texas Public Schools.
Dr. Kennedy’s last day in the district will be March 19, 2024. She will remain an employee of the school district until June 30, 2024. The board of trustees will begin discussions about a superintendent search.
“I am very proud of the work we have accomplished over the past 9 years,” said Superintendent Kennedy. According to Dr. Kennedy, she’s looking forward to the next chapter of her life with future opportunities to spend more time with family.
On behalf of the entire district, the board of trustees expresses its sincere appreciation to Dr. Kennedy for her efforts while serving as superintendent of this school district, its students, parents, and administrators and for the many achievements of the entire district team during Kennedy’s tenure here.
During her 9 years as Superintendent of Burton ISD, Dr. Kennedy and her team have been successful in making sound fiscal management decisions, implementing curricular and academic program improvements, strengthening extracurricular activities, managing personnel, initiating innovative professional development, building on technology infrastructure, developing safety and security protocols with the help of the security team, passing a bond, and overseeing current building construction.
Currently, Burton ISD is recognized as an A rated district and one of the top districts in the state for post-secondary readiness by TEA. TEA’s post-secondary readiness distinction includes factors such as graduation rates, ACT/SAT participation and performance, career and tech graduates, and dual-credit course completion rates.
Under her tenure, Dr. Kennedy and the business manager have the District in a fiscally conservative position, maintaining a balanced budget and a strong fund balance despite challenges with state and federal funding and have secured clean independent audits of the district’s financial status. Burton ISD has earned the highest financial rating of superior achievement on the financial rating system of Texas.
Dr. Kennedy says that school success has been all about working together as a team to provide the best education possible for the accomplishments of all our students. “I have been blessed to work with wonderful people at Burton ISD. The District is in excellent shape and I am confident it will continue to grow to accomplish great things in the future.”
Success requires hard work, determination, leadership, and vision. The Board and Dr. Kennedy would like to acknowledge and recognize the teachers, principals, administrators, staff security, students, parents and patrons who have all contributed to the District’s success.
I admire Dr.Kennedy’s management style. There is no I in the word Team! is just one of many admired qualities she has to offer. Happy retirement and thank you for your service to us all on a job done very well.