As this year comes to a fold, Principal Robert Ted
Burcaw, will retire from a long, successful career in education. It all began in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, but
Mr. Burcaw considers Bethlehem, Pennsylvania his hometown since he spent much
of his childhood there. His mother was a
science teacher, administrator and then a minister; his father was an English
professor, so education was a big part of his foundation. Mr. Burcaw was the oldest of his siblings, with
two younger brothers and a sister. For
undergrad, Mr. Burcaw attended Moravian College to complete a Bachelor of Arts
in English. He also received a Master’s
in Theology from Moravian Theological College and went on to obtain a Master’s
Degree in School Administration at the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro.
Mr. Burcaw’s career in education led him through a
variety of positions that reflect his diverse background. In 1997, he became the Home School
Coordinator at Mineral Springs Elementary School. He also served as a classroom Specialist in
Character Education and filled in as the Assistant Principal and Technology
Facilitator. As the Family Engagement
Coordinator, he made home visits, helped build community, and involved all
stakeholders in the educational family.
During this time, he served as a Community Involvement Coordinator
during the first Bookworms program that involved volunteers from the City of
Winston-Salem. After these experiences
and career successes, Mr. Burcaw was encouraged to move into
administration. His first Assistant
Principal’s job was at Sedge Garden Elementary School from 2000-2004. He then became the principal at Cook
Elementary School from April 2004-August 2010, which led him to open Kingswood
School, a school that provided a therapeutic environment with a focus on aiding
the mental health as well as academic growth of students. Before coming to Diggs-Latham, he served as
principal at the Children’s Center for 2 years.
He has been with us now for 4 years.
“Mr. Burcaw is a good leader. He recognizes leadership qualities among
others and offers support that allows teachers the freedom to reach their
goals. He expects everyone to set and
reach high goals and work to their full potential. He shows much care and understanding for
matters and concerns of life. He was a
major supporter of the Arts Magnet Program and will greatly be missed,” says
Amanda Gordon, Art Teacher and A+ Magnet Coordinator.
When asked what he enjoyed the most about his career
in education, Mr. Burcaw quickly answered relationships with students and
watching them grow from kindergarten through fifth grade. He has embraced diversity and helped address
issues of equity in his various positions.
He has enjoyed helping students succeed, especially students who have
overcome difficult variables to succeed or sometimes simply make it through
their daily life. It has been a major
goal in Mr. Burcaw’s career to help students grow to their full potential by
supporting their work. He emphasized
that the work of teachers is one of the most important parts of providing a
successful experience for students, so his support for teachers directly impacted
students as well.
Teacher of the Year and Current SIT Chair, Mrs. Cymbre
Cooke said: “I’ve heard that good leaders lead with compassion, and I feel
like that describes Burcaw well. I always felt like he cared about my needs as
a teacher. Also, he is always there with a kind, quiet smile and thoughtful guidance if I came to him with a
personal problem. He listens, he cares about the kids, and he will be sorely
missed at Diggs-Latham!”
To future teachers and administrators, Mr. Burcaw said
first and foremost, take a strong academic approach with a focus on reading and
problem-solving to provide students with a foundation necessary to foster
global awareness. Strong relationships
are a must. It’s important not only to
be kind and loving but prepare children for a complicated world. The primary goal of an educator is to teach
all students at the highest level to support them in reaching their highest
capacity. Students, parents, coworkers
need to care for and value each other and the ongoing process.
During retirement, at first, Mr. Burcaw will take a
couple months to shift his focus. He is
open to other opportunities in employment or community service where he can
offer his strengths. He is looking
forward to enjoying more time with his family and spending time at his weekend
home in the mountains. He will continue
to play mandolin. Overall in this next
phase of his life, he will “serve the world and give back to the world that has
been kind to” him.
“Enjoy this new journey in your life!!” Assistant Principal, Mrs. Ana Ortiz
shared: “I am grateful and honored to
have an amazing role model as my principal.
You are an inspiration and living example of the love for education and
children. Our time working together has
been one of the best times in my life, and although it was short, the memories
will last forever! Happy retirement!”
As Mr. Burcaw says goodbye to our school family as our
principal and leader, as he reflected back over his career and looks toward
future plans, he wants everyone to remember, “treat all others as you want to
be treated.”
Thank you Mr. Burcaw for leading by example and
fulfilling these words of wisdom throughout your career. Enjoy your retirement, and we look forward to
hearing about your future adventures serving the community, perhaps acting in
more plays, playing mandolin and much more.
