Burke says he’s extremely excited about getting started in Lee County and says he believes he’s coming to the best job in the state of Florida.

 

“And I’m a very, very lucky person to have been selected. I look forward to working with the board,” he said. “We have a lot of things that we need to do and we’re going to build a team and have a wonderful time doing the work that we need to do.”

Burke says improving reading at the high school level will be one of his top priorities. He told school board members he’ll be making several recommendations. He also transferred several school principals.

Burke will oversee of 82,000 students attending 117 schools. He replaces Dr. James Browder who resigned to go to Edison State College.

School district video of the swearing in can be found here by clicking on “July 1, 2011” under Special Meeting.