Elizabeth Burmaster

Conversations:
Creating a seamless educational experience
Q&A with State Superintendent and Regent Elizabeth Burmaster

Elizabeth Burmaster was elected in 2001 as Wisconsin's 25th superintendent of public instruction. Burmaster also serves as an ex officio member of the UW System Board of Regents, bringing her unique perspective about K–12 education to the university.

A third-generation teacher, Burmaster graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's degree in educational administration. Her administrative and teaching experience both span elementary, middle school and high school levels.

From 1992 until her election, she was principal at Madison West High School. Burmaster is a member of the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, Tempo, Tempo International, SAI Music Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and the Education Commission of the States.

In this Q&A with Wisconsin Ideas, Superintendent Burmaster details the importance of a seamless PK–16 educational experience, the development of the Wisconsin PK–16 Leadership Council, and how the council's work will benefit students of all ages across Wisconsin.

WI: What does PK–16 collaboration mean to Wisconsin?

EB: In creating a seamless educational system, from pre-kindergarten through college, we not only ensure our high-quality educational system, and contribute to the economic development of the state, we better prepare our students to live and contribute to a vibrant 21st century society.

WI: Why is the Wisconsin PK–16 Leadership Council so unique?

EB: The unique nature of the PK–16 Leadership Council lies in the broad coalition it brings together. Wide representation on the council gives us more strength to achieve our ultimate goal: to foster collaboration among the four sectors of education and to work in partnership with business, industry, labor and government to enhance learning and learning opportunities throughout Wisconsin.

The council is chaired and sponsored by UW System President Katharine C. Lyall and myself. Participating sponsors include Richard Carpernter, president of the Wisconsin Technical College System, and Rolf Wegenke, president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

The council also greatly benefits from representatives from the governor's office and the Legislature, other education-related organizations, as well as business, manufacturing and labor groups.

WI: How does the council gain support to further its goals?

EB: The work of the council is funded in part by a supplemental award from the U.S. Department of Education to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the University of Wisconsin System, under the Title II Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant Program.

In addition, Wisconsin received a federal teacher quality supplemental grant to support leadership and collaboration efforts to continue reforms of teacher education and licensing in the state.

WI: What are some of the most important achievements of the council to date?

EB: The Council has three areas of focus: early childhood education, student transition from high school to college, and teacher training and professional development.

Among its accomplishments, the council has worked to endorse PI-34, the Wisconsin Quality Educator Initiative, which will have a dramatic positive effect on student learning.

PI-34 reforms the one-tier educational license system to a graduated three-stage license that raises standards for educators. The result of almost 10 years of development in partnership and collaboration with professional groups and national experts, PI-34 will provide new teachers with mentoring and continuing teachers with the training and support they need to serve Wisconsin's diverse student population.

In addition, the council recognizes that the senior year of high school often represents a lost opportunity to link students with either postsecondary education or work.

In an effort to change that trend, the council has endorsed expanded opportunities for capable and motivated high school juniors and seniors to enroll in courses at a UW institution, a Wisconsin technical college, one of the state's participating private nonprofit institutions of higher education, or tribally controlled colleges, at no cost to the students through the state's Youth Options program.

WI: How is the council working to advance its mission in coming months?

EB: In an effort to recognize best practices across Wisconsin that enhance the dissemination of quality programming, support existing partnerships, and encourage future collaborative efforts, the council has recently created a best practices recognition initiative.

In addition to recognizing quality practices, this initiative will help us gain a deeper understanding of today's most important educational issues. These "Programs of Distinction" will be awarded at the council's June meeting.

We're looking to highlight distinctive programs that make a real impact on student learning and/or teacher performance, especially those that involve collaboration with several educational sectors. In addition, award-winning programs will show how they prepare students to make successful educational transitions, and will reflect innovation, use of technology, practices based on research, and sensitivity to diversity issues.

More information on the "Programs of Distinction" is available on the PK–16 website.

WI: How does your perspective, as state superintendent and a member of the Board of Regents, inform your work on the Leadership Council?

EB: I have worked in my role as a regent to encourage the formation of regional PK–16 partnerships across the state.

To that end, I have worked with the UW System chancellors in initiating a series of meetings bringing together presidents of private colleges and universities, technical colleges and CESA directors, with the goal of establishing broader regional partnerships that mirror the statewide PK–16 Council.