LETTER: Proud of PW-SSD, he’s taking the reins of up-north district

To Ozaukee Press:

Last week, the Port Washington-Saukville School District School Board accepted my resignation as principal of Port Washington High School. I have signed a contract to be the superintendent of the Rhinelander School District. I earned my certification back in 2015, but I wanted to see the construction process through to completion before looking for superintendent positions. When the position in Rhinelander opened, it seemed like a perfect fit. It is similar in size to Port Washington, and our family has owned a cabin on a lake near Rhinelander for 25 years.

 I started teaching and coaching in the PW-SSD 26 years ago. I have taught or have been an administrator in every school in our district except Dunwiddie. It has been something special to come back to my hometown and work with the students and families in our community. In that time, our school district and high school have been among the top ranked in the state for many reasons. This past year PWHS was ranked as one of the top 25 schools in the state by the Milwaukee Business Journal and the Wisconsin School Report Card. Our students and staff are something special.

 I am most proud of the programs we have created together, like Port Pride, Pirate Treasure and the community mentor program, our amazing new high school and the success of our students and staff in academics, athletics and activities. I will greatly miss being with all of you.  However, I am looking forward to this new leadership opportunity.

School Supt. Mike Weber and other leaders will begin the process very soon to find a new leader for PWHS. I am confident that they will find a great leader to continue on our tradition of success and bring new ideas to make our school even better than it is now. I ask that you be supportive of the process and the transition of this new leader.

 For now, we have a few months left in this school year. I will look forward to every day I have left to work with our students, staff and families. We will finish the school year strong at PWHS.

 If you get up north in the future, please be sure to stop by. I can show you around the community and perhaps some hot spots to see the Hodag (cousin to Sasquatch).

Eric Burke
Port Washington