Meet Dr. Tony Lamair Burks II of LEADright in Historic Washington Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Tony Lamair Burks II.

Dr. Tony Lamair Burks II has been an educator all his life. Long before he became an elementary school principal at the age of 27, he often found himself teaching others as a child. Since then he has served schools and districts in roles from Magnet Director to School Transformation Coach, from Principal Mentor to Executive Director of Small School Innovation, and from Regional Executive Director of Schools to Area Superintendent.

After serving as an elementary school principal, Dr. Burks started The Early College at Guilford, North Carolina’s first early college high school. The school is one of the first of its kind in the world. He was a founding member of the North Carolina New Schools Project Advisory Board which established innovative approaches to high school education and which leads the nation in the creation and support of nearly 80 early college high schools, a successful hybrid model that blends high school and the first two years of college.

During his tenure with the San Diego Unified School District, Dr. Burks held several cabinet-level positions including Executive Director of Atypical and Charter Schools where he had responsibilities for California’s second-largest portfolio of public charter schools.

For over four years as Superintendent-in-Residence with the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST) at San Diego State University, Dr. Burks assisted NCUST in helping school districts and their partners transform urban schools into places where all students achieve academic proficiency, evidence a love of learning, and graduate well prepared to succeed. He worked in Atlanta Public Schools from 2012 to 2015 as an area superintendent for the north region, principal mentor, and the principal of Frederick Douglass High School.

An award-winning education expert who helps individuals and organizations as a thought partner, Dr. Burks has earned three Fulbright awards and is a fellow of the British-American Project. He was highlighted by NU∙tribe Magazine as One of Six HBCU Grads You Should Know. The Boys and Girls Club of Hawk-Houston recognized him with its Alveta Hawk Lifetime Achievement Award and Guilford County Schools honored him as its Secondary Principal of the Year.

Dr. Burks is the author of The Tale of Imani the Bunny a Children’s Book, Bought Wisdom: Tales of Living and Learning an Interactive Leadership Memoir, and four other books. He is among five educators featured in Walking the Equity Talk: A Guide for Culturally Courageous Leadership in School Communities by John Robert Browne II. Dr. Burks’ ideas and insights center around thinking differently, taking different actions, and having different breakthrough results.

Dr. Burks is passionate about helping others tell their stories. He served as the interim director of a publishing house, and he leads a series of interactive workshops–​Unleashing Your Untold Healing Story​ and ​Writing Your Story​–to help others unearth and release stories that have been held deep within. Since 1989 he has been helping grieving families capture the essence of their loved ones as an obituary writer. He artfully tells their joys, triumphs, sorrows, and challenges in ways that honor their lives and legacies.

A 1995 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Dr. Burks earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with Honors from Morehouse College, a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from The University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life hasn’t been filled with crystal stairs.

On June 30, 2011, I was laid off as the Area Nine Superintendent with the San Diego Unified School District after three years of service as a casualty of California’s worst financial crisis in generations. I went from earning a salary of $155,000 a year with responsibilities for over $125 million to receiving $425 a week in unemployment. In the months after the layoff, I had multiple opportunities to buy-into the madness and host a pity party by sending a special invitation only to myself:

“Lost touch with my soul
I had nowhere to turn
I had nowhere to go
Lost sight of my dream,
Thought it would be the end of me
I thought I’d never make it through
I had no hope to hold on to,
I thought I would break
I didn’t know my own strength”

In May of 2011, I was one of five finalists for service as superintendent of the Dothan City Schools; and in July, I was one of six finalists and then one of two finalists to become the next superintendent of the Tuscaloosa City Schools. I wasn’t selected for either position though board members from both districts identified me as the most qualified. For the first time in my career, I questioned my God-given talents:

“And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn’t know my own strength”

And in my darkest hour, my grandfather whispered from his grave, “It’s in your blood. Hold your head high. Stick your chest out. You’ve got a strong name that your great-great granddaddy chose purposefully.”:

“Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break
I didn’t know my own strength.”

Working with the Atlanta Public Schools was no different (https://www.ajc.com/blog/get-schooled/ousted-atlanta-public-schools-principal-supervisors-can-teach-what-they-don-know/SjpN2RTqMUg1fBjuXQqwYK/). I even made a bid for school board (www.drtonyburks.org).

There are no testimonies without tests…and I have stories to tell. Indeed, now I know my own strength.

LEADright – what should we know? What do you guys do best?
I currently serve as the Chief Learning Officer of LEADright where I guide the firm in coaching and training leaders for excellence.

LEADright supports leaders in…
+ being different in their thinking (mindset);
+ doing differently in their day-to-day work (practices); and
+ having different breakthrough results for themselves and their organizations (outcomes).

The Asian Proverb “Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I’ll remember. Involve me, I’ll understand” is central to the work of LEADright.

What sets you apart from the competition?
We help our clients as leaders by transforming and reframing learning and leading.
We help leaders innovate and perform to improve outcomes for themselves and their organizations.
Our team brings decades of experience providing adult learning. LEADright has helped organizations across the United States of America and abroad.

TESTIMONIALS

Tony Lamair Burks II is a passionate educator and a strong advocate for students. He is an impressive role model for lifelong learning and self-improvement with high achievement aspirations.
LIBIA GIL, PH.D., Chief Education Officer, Illinois State Board of Education and former assistant deputy secretary and director, Office for English Language Acquisition, United States Department of Education.

I have found him to be an authentic care-taker, passionate advocate, and keenly intellectual educator who balances both theory and practice in such a way as to provide an achievable but forward-thinking and provocative vision.
DARIAN C. JONES, PH.D., K-12 education expert and founder and chief academic officer, Sankore’ Prep.

[Dr. Burks] is insightful and painfully honest about what it takes to get [organizations] and professionals to perform at high levels as well as the tremendous amount of sacrifice involved.
STANTON E. LAWRENCE, SR., ED.D., assistant superintendent for administration, San Antonio Independent School District.

I really enjoyed the experience with the LEADright team and learned many valuable things that are helping me to look at my observations differently. Very personable and professional. I learned a protocol for data meetings and six characteristics of high performing schools. I was surprised that a snapshot observation could reveal so much information.
CLASSROOM TEACHER, Grandview Elementary School, Dothan City Schools.

“I wished I’d met [Dr. Burks] 20 years ago, I’d be a different teacher based on what I’ve learned from three sessions with [him].”
36-YEAR VETERAN TEACHER, Illinois.

I had the distinct pleasure of working with Dr. Burks while he was the Director of Magnet and Choice Schools at Guilford County Schools. Dr. Burks leadership and vision played a major role in establishing Guilford County Schools as one of the most innovative districts in the country.
CECILIA ADAMS, artist and writer.

[Dr. Burks] is one of the young geniuses engaged in the noble work of transforming K-12 Education and is a leader who knows the value of “learning without limits.”
RONNIE PRICE, vice president of human resources, Chattahoochee Technical College.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
To live a relaxed, reduced-stress life, welcoming opportunities for prosperity, life-long learning, a fellowship of kindred spirits, leadership in education, service to the world community, and experiences with the spirit of my innermost self and of the Most High as I care for my soul.

Pricing:

• One 45-minute Leadership Coaching Session by phone or via video conferencing, $100
• One Mock Interview Session by phone or via video conferencing with a critique of responses to interview questions and prompts, $250
• One Obituary using information gathered from a completed Family Member Questionnaire and/or a conference call interview with Family Members, $225
• Co-writing and Ghostwriting Books, $2,500+
• One Day of Professional Development, $2,750+

Contact Info:

• Address: 50 Sunset Avenue NW #92383
  Atlanta, Georgia 30314
• Website: www.leadrighttoday.com
• Phone: 619-796-6463
• Email: tony@leadrighttoday.com
• Instagram: @DrTonyBurks
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/LEADright
• Twitter: @DrTonyBurks
• Other: www.linkedin.com/in/tlburks2

Image Credit:
Marie Thomas and Timothy Daniels photographers

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