2 Jun 2006
Burgess Has Served the District for 26 Years
DALLAS–Gayla Burgess was named 2006-2007
Dallas Independent School District Principal of the Year during a luncheon held Friday, June 2.
Superintendent Michael Hinojosa and Jonathan Kirby from AXA Advisors, the event's sponsor, presented Burgess a check for $3,000.
Burgess is the principal at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School and has served at that school for the past seven years. She has 26 years of experience in education. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 from East Texas State University, Burgess began teaching at Skyline Career Development Center.
Throughout the years, Burgess continued her higher education and achieved a Master of Science degree from East Texas State University in 1984 and in 1986 she obtained Mid-Management Certification from the same university.
Nominators describe Burgess as "an advocate for positive change."
Burgess submitted a proposal and successfully obtained a 21st Century Community Learning Center Achievement Avenue Grant, which has benefited her school community.
Under her leadership, the school has implemented several programs to better serve the needs of students and their parents. Among them are computer labs for fourth through sixth grade students and for Kindergarten through second grade students. Burgess also initiated Saturday schools on her campus, encouraged the involvement of teachers and other staff members in TAKS tutoring and has taught a group of students herself. Parents also have the opportunity to go to the school and learn English through ESL classes offered.
"Instructional leadership involves expecting the best from students and refusing to let them fail," said Burgess. "My staff and I are constantly striving to show kids the joy that can come when they get excited about learning something new and experiencing success," she says.
Her dedication is noticed and appreciated by her staff and students. As one student said, "I love our principal. She always says, 'Hi' and knows my name."
Since the school has a large Hispanic population, Burgess also has taken on the task of learning Spanish and now she is fluent enough to conduct PTA meetings and parent workshops in Spanish.
"Being a principal is not a job, it's a process of growth, of learning how to accomplish your personal and organizational missions through others." said Burgess.
The DISD Principal of the Year is chosen from among the Area Principals of the Year on the basis of their essay packets and personal interviews for leadership skills, management effectiveness, school staff relationship, and community and parent involvement skills. The selection committee is composed of parent, student and community representatives, administrators, teachers and the district's former Principal of the Year.
Finalists for this year's award were:
· Cheryl Davis Humphrey – Maya Angelou High School
· M. Jean Dixon – Sarah Zumwalt Middle School
· José León Tellez – Eduardo Mata Elementary School
· Jonnice L. Berns – Anne Frank Elementary School
· Alba N. Marrero – María Moreno Elementary School
· Jeff Baker – Amelia Earhart Elementary School
Each of the six finalists received an engraved award and $250 cash.
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