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New KSD superintendent getting a feel for similarities, differences - KansasCity.com
When state officials announced that Madeleine Burkindine would be the next superintendent at the Kansas School for the Deaf, the Johnson County woman didn’t waste time getting started.
Months before her official duties began, Burkindine spent one day a week in Olathe working alongside and absorbing knowledge from retiring KSD Superintendent Robert Maile. She walked the stately hallways getting to know the people, the curriculum, the students and the history.
And while Burkindine is the first to acknowledge that she has plenty to learn about the school, Maile said he believes she’s started off right.
“I feel good about retiring with someone as knowledgeable as her taking the lead and someone as willing to work with the good people that are there,” Maile said.
Burkindine has been handed a unique challenge. The state has asked her to lead the School for the Deaf and continue to serve as superintendent at the School for the Blind in Kansas City, Kan., where she has served as superintendent since 2007. The change came after the Governor’s Facilities Closure and Realignment Committee recommended a series of cost saving measures for the schools. The committee called for both schools to remain open, but share a superintendent and other administrative functions and duties.
Burkindine and her executive team will be in charge of carrying out those measures, but she’s quick to note that students and academics will come first. She is implementing the same leadership style that made her successful as the superintendent at the School for the Blind. She has let her leadership teams use their expertise without micromanaging.
One of Burkindine’s first moves was to appoint Luanne Barron as assistant superintendent at KSD.
Burkindine and her executive team also signed up to take an American Sign Language course. The team will continue their course work this fall.
“My most immediate need is to learn sign language,” she said.
For now administrators at the schools are working vigorously to implement money saving strategies while preserving and improving academics, she said.
The change wasn’t something Burkindine or Maile advocated, but she notes that change can spur positive growth.
“The whole impetus behind this was to save the state money. But I think there can be some advantages too to look at some of the services we have,” she said.
After all, Burkindine, a mother and grandmother, hadn’t set out to work at the School for the Blind.
As a college student she volunteered at a preschool for children who were deaf or had hearing disabilities. She also volunteered to work with a teacher for the blind.
“I just kind of fell in love with the environment,” she said.
She was hired at the School for the Blind in 1973. Burkindine has a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s in behavioral disorders and emotional disturbance from the University of Kansas, and an education specialist degree in education administration from UMKC. She has had several positions at the school, including serving as principal from 1995 to 2007, when she became superintendent.
As she works to implement consolidation efforts, Burkindine said some things won’t be touched during the transition.
“We’re trying to keep the instructional part unique and separate because it just has to be,” she said. “The two populations need instruction that is very, very different. And the dorm is part of that instruction.”
Burkindine’s team has discovered that some of the consolidation plans won’t work. Technology is one example of where the two schools need separate and distinct equipment.
“The technology is hugely different, but we’re working together so if there are efficiencies in ordering then that can be achieved,” she said.
Burkindine said her goals at the School for the Deaf are focused on improving or expanding existing programs.
“I’d like to expand the outreach program at Kansas School for the Deaf so we could serve more students,” she said. “Communication is something that I’m going to try to work on in every way you can imagine it.”
The Kansas Board of Education receives quarterly reports from the executive team about how the consolidation is working. After two years the state will determine the next step.
“The question remains: Is this too much? I don’t know. This is kind of a trial,” said Kansas Board of Education Chairwoman Janet Waugh. “I’m confident she’ll do whatever it takes to make it work.”
Waugh said Burkindine’s past work speaks for itself.
“I get nothing but very positive feedback from students, parents and the community regarding how she handles the School for the Blind,” Waugh said. “I’m confident she’ll take these same traits with her to the School for the Deaf.”
When state officials announced that Madeleine Burkindine would be the next superintendent at the Kansas School for the Deaf, the Johnson County woman didn’t waste time getting started.
Months before her official duties began, Burkindine spent one day a week in Olathe working alongside and absorbing knowledge from retiring KSD Superintendent Robert Maile. She walked the stately hallways getting to know the people, the curriculum, the students and the history.
And while Burkindine is the first to acknowledge that she has plenty to learn about the school, Maile said he believes she’s started off right.
“I feel good about retiring with someone as knowledgeable as her taking the lead and someone as willing to work with the good people that are there,” Maile said.
Burkindine has been handed a unique challenge. The state has asked her to lead the School for the Deaf and continue to serve as superintendent at the School for the Blind in Kansas City, Kan., where she has served as superintendent since 2007. The change came after the Governor’s Facilities Closure and Realignment Committee recommended a series of cost saving measures for the schools. The committee called for both schools to remain open, but share a superintendent and other administrative functions and duties.
Burkindine and her executive team will be in charge of carrying out those measures, but she’s quick to note that students and academics will come first. She is implementing the same leadership style that made her successful as the superintendent at the School for the Blind. She has let her leadership teams use their expertise without micromanaging.
One of Burkindine’s first moves was to appoint Luanne Barron as assistant superintendent at KSD.
Burkindine and her executive team also signed up to take an American Sign Language course. The team will continue their course work this fall.
“My most immediate need is to learn sign language,” she said.
For now administrators at the schools are working vigorously to implement money saving strategies while preserving and improving academics, she said.
The change wasn’t something Burkindine or Maile advocated, but she notes that change can spur positive growth.
“The whole impetus behind this was to save the state money. But I think there can be some advantages too to look at some of the services we have,” she said.
After all, Burkindine, a mother and grandmother, hadn’t set out to work at the School for the Blind.
As a college student she volunteered at a preschool for children who were deaf or had hearing disabilities. She also volunteered to work with a teacher for the blind.
“I just kind of fell in love with the environment,” she said.
She was hired at the School for the Blind in 1973. Burkindine has a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s in behavioral disorders and emotional disturbance from the University of Kansas, and an education specialist degree in education administration from UMKC. She has had several positions at the school, including serving as principal from 1995 to 2007, when she became superintendent.
As she works to implement consolidation efforts, Burkindine said some things won’t be touched during the transition.
“We’re trying to keep the instructional part unique and separate because it just has to be,” she said. “The two populations need instruction that is very, very different. And the dorm is part of that instruction.”
Burkindine’s team has discovered that some of the consolidation plans won’t work. Technology is one example of where the two schools need separate and distinct equipment.
“The technology is hugely different, but we’re working together so if there are efficiencies in ordering then that can be achieved,” she said.
Burkindine said her goals at the School for the Deaf are focused on improving or expanding existing programs.
“I’d like to expand the outreach program at Kansas School for the Deaf so we could serve more students,” she said. “Communication is something that I’m going to try to work on in every way you can imagine it.”
The Kansas Board of Education receives quarterly reports from the executive team about how the consolidation is working. After two years the state will determine the next step.
“The question remains: Is this too much? I don’t know. This is kind of a trial,” said Kansas Board of Education Chairwoman Janet Waugh. “I’m confident she’ll do whatever it takes to make it work.”
Waugh said Burkindine’s past work speaks for itself.
“I get nothing but very positive feedback from students, parents and the community regarding how she handles the School for the Blind,” Waugh said. “I’m confident she’ll take these same traits with her to the School for the Deaf.”