Richard Burge, the former principal of Lovett Elementary and a Mississippi College graduate, received a national award that points to his success at the school since 2006. Burge was named a National Distinguished Principal and he was the only one in Mississippi to receive that honor.
“Mr. Burge holds his students and teachers to a high standard of achievement, he is a strong manager and he hires only the best teachers,” said Phil Burchfield, superintendent of the Clinton Public School District. “What he’s doing at Lovett is a formula for success. He is a model for principals at any level.”
The National Distinguished Principal program is sponsored by the National Association of School Principals to spotlight outstanding elementary and middle-level administrators. In October, Burge will join other distinguished principals from around the nation as they travel to U.S. Department of Education in Washington to receive the honors.
Burge received a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from William Carey University in Hattiesburg and a master of education in supervision and administration from Mississippi College. A former coach, he also served as an administrator at Perry Central High in New Augusta and Madison Central High in Madison before joining the Clinton public schools six years ago.
