Genoa-Kingston # 424 Superintendent: Back to School

August 11, 2011

If you have yet to register your child please do so before the start of school on Wednesday, August 17^th. Registration forms are available on our website at gkschools.org Please consider mailing in registration forms and fees to any of our Genoa- Kingston schools as soon as possible or stop in at your child’s school office during normal school hours.

Also, Genoa-Kingston School District reminds all parents that Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines for school entry require all students entering Kindergarten provide proof of a physical examination and current immunizations. Also required for Kindergarten entry are dental and ophthalmologic exams.

Students entering the sixth and ninth grades must also have an updated physical and proof of current immunizations, which should have been completed upon Kindergarten entry. A Tetanus booster is required every 10 years and for your convenience it is recommended that your physician complete this as your child enters High School.

The physical examination for school entry doubles as a sports physical for those students wishing to participate in school athletics, however a sports physical will not meet the requirements for school entry.

In 1997 Genoa-Kingston adopted a first day exclusion policy which states that no student will be allowed to attend school until proof of immunity and a current physical are on file. Please contact Jane Olson, RN, School Nurse with any questions @ 815-757-2219.

All about me

Superintendent Biography
August 2011
Joe F. Burgess, Jr. is entering his 28th year of education, twenty-four of which have been in public school administration.

Mr. Burgess is married (Kathy) and has three children, (Joe III -age 25, Mike- age 22, and Amie-age 20). Mr. and Mrs. Burgess are both 1984 graduates of Monmouth College, Monmouth IL. Joe III is a 2008 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and is currently a business teacher and coach at Olympia School District near Bloomington, IL. Mike is a recent graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and is pursuing a career in political science. Amie is currently attending Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL.

Mr. Burgess started his educational career in 1984 at R.O.V.A. (later R.O.W.V.A.) # 208 in Oneida, IL. He was an elementary teacher and coached football and basketball. In 1988, Mr. Burgess was named elementary principal and head teacher at Rio Elementary, and two years later named to the same position at Wataga Elementary, a school newly petitioned into ' the R.O.W.V.A. School District. In 1989, he was named Knox County's Teacher of the year by the local media.

1992, Mr. Burgess joined the Galesburg # 205 School District as an elementary principal and a year later was named Title One Director for the district along with his principal duties. While Title One Director Mr. Burgess was honored by the State Board of Education in 1997 as a Gold Star of Excellence Award winner for innovative practices in the area of Title One.

In 1998, he became Superintendent of Schools at Saunemin Elementary District # 438 in Saunemin, IL. This K-8 district was a feeder district to Pontiac High School and Dwight High School. Saunemin was noted by the State Board as one of the first school districts in the state to complete the differentiated instruction process of having an individual educational plan for every student in the district.

2003 was Mr. Burgess' first year as superintendent at Tuscola CUSD # 301 in Tuscola, IL. In 2006, Tuscola's elementary school North Ward was honored as a National Blue Ribbon school for academic excellence.

2010 Mr. Burgess assumed the duties as Genoa-Kingston #424 new superintendent. He looks forward to his second year of guiding Genoa-Kingston and maintaining the excellence in education that the district is known for in the Northern part of Illinois.

During his career Mr. Burgess has been active both professionally and civically. He has held several offices in the Illinois Association of School Administrators including the president of both the Cornbelt and Illini Divisions. He has been an active Lion, Rotarian, and United Way board member. In addition he has been a member of the Pontiac Library Board, Saunemin Educational Foundation Board, Tuscola Economic Development Board and numerous civic committees.

Education

BA Elementary Education
Monmouth College, Monmouth IL -1984
MA Educational Administration
Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL -1992
Ed Sp Educational Administration
Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL -1998
Ed D Educational Administration
Illinois State University, Normal, IL - continuing