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The principal of a San Jose middle school who was recently named California Middle Grades Principal of the Year 2012 will be Hillview Middle School’s new principal, pending school board approval, the Menlo Park City School District announced late this afternoon.
Erik A. Burmeister has been principal of Union Middle School in the Union School District since July 2007, and was the school’s assistant principal for two years before that.
Approval of Mr. Burmeister’s appointment, and that of Sharon Burns as Encinal School’s principal, is expected at the school board’s May 8 meeting. They are expected to begin work for the district on Aug. 2.
Superintendent Maurice Ghysels said in a written announcement: “The panels of administrators, teachers and parents who interviewed Erik during our rigorous hiring process were consistently impressed by his commitment to innovation in education, as well as his understanding and appreciation of middle school students and their needs.”
As Union School principal, Mr. Burmeister “has raised the school’s API (Academic Performance Index) score by 102 points, and almost completely closed the achievement gap between white and Asian and Hispanic students,” Mr. Ghysels said. “In 2001, for the first time in the school’s history, every eighth-grade student met Union’s requirements for graduation.”
In addition, he said, no student is achieving at below-basic level, and more advanced students have been achieving at higher levels than in the past.
Mr. Burmeister’s performance apparently has been attracting attention statewide. Mr. Ghysels said that more than 400 teachers, superintendents and board members from all over California have visited Union School over the past three years “to witness first-hand how Erik’s team has implemented a program of meaningful learning and achievement for all students.”
Mr. Burmeister will replace Mike Melton, who is retiring at the end of the school year.
Hillview is so lucky to have Mr B as their new principal!
It’s Dr. Ghysels, not Mr. Ghysels!
Having a PhD does not make someone a doctor, any more than having a JD make someone a doctor. But if there were a degree in sleaze, I’d say the superintendent has earned it.
Although Mr. B. was never a principal to me he was a great mentor and I person I look up to with a lot of respect. Hillside is lucky to get a chance to know him.
Actually, watching, having a Ph.D. does make one a doctor, as does a J.D. The sleaze part isn’t something I know about re him, but it sounds like you do!
I think Dr. Ghysels is just so attractive and charming! What a great asset and addition to the district!
How much is this going to cost? Can the district afford to go around and steal the so-called best from other districts? This seems more like leadership by checkbook than anything else.
Actually – having an EdD (doctor of education), PhD (doctor of philosophy), DVM (doctor of veterinary medcine), DMA (doctor of musical arts), MD (doctor of medicine), DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine), DPT (doctor of physical therapy), and so on are all usually referred to as doctor. JD is the only exception I know of – First Name Last Name, Esquire is a term that has been used but is not very commonplace.