Retirement Receptions for Principals Burns/Newman

Pam Burns will be guest of honor at a reception honoring the retiring principal of Southern Oaks Elementary School. The reception is open to friends, family, current and former co-workers from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 6, in the SOES media center. The school is located at 7525 U.S. 431. 

Pam Burns is retiring after 32 years of service to students, staff and families of DCPS. She began her career as a fifth-grade teacher at Tamarack Elementary School in 1971. She has also worked at Whitesville, Highland, Philpot, East View and Utica elementary schools, and Daviess County and College View middle schools. Her roles have included service as gifted and talented resource teacher (HES, TES, PES, WES); gifted and talented language arts (DCMS and CVMS); DCPS summer school principal; dean of students (EVES); extended school coordinator (CVMS); assistant principal (CVMS) and principal (UES and SOES). She was named Kentucky Middle School Teacher of the Year in 1998. 

She was named assistant principal at College View Middle School in 1999 and moved to Utica Elementary School as principal in 2002. When that school closed, she moved to Southern Oaks Elementary School in 2008.

Burns has demonstrated an exceptional dedication to professional development. She is a national trainer for the Talents Unlimited Thinking Skills Model. Other areas of professional development have included National Teachers Forum, Kentucky Department of Education Leadership Focus, KDE Grant Reviewer, Kentucky Leadership Academy, Kentucky Teacher Internship Program, Confrature (University of Connecticut), The Institute for Academic Excellence/Reading Renaissance, Junior Great Books, Skills for Adolescence, and School-Based Decision Making Council membership training and principal selection.

Anita Newman will be guest of honor at a reception honoring the retiring principal of Highland Elementary School. The reception is open to friends, family, current and former co-workers from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, in the HES gymnasium. The school is located at 2909 Kentucky 54. 

The reception will include a performance by the Highland choir and percussion ensemble. 

Anita Newman has served the Daviess County Public Schools district for 36 years and will retire at the conclusion of the 2011-12 school year. She began her career as an elementary teacher at Masonville Elementary School in 1971. She joined Highland as a teacher in 1978 and taught there for 10 years accepting the role of principal at Utica Elementary School in 1988. She returned to Highland as principal in 1989. 

Under her leadership, Highland has proven to be a high-achieving school and has received numerous recognitions and rewards, including designation as a Kentucky Pacesetter School for several years and being named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2008. Highland has consistently maintained a high level of academic achievement and consistently ranks among the top schools in the state. Newman was vital in the development of Highland’s signature event, the Renaissance Faire, which brings visitors from across the district and community to view the musical and theatrical talents of Highland fourth- and fifth-graders.