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W. Keith Burgess, Ph.D.
Ph.D in Curriculum and Instruction (Urban Education)
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Expanded Impact 3 Teacher, Middle Grades Science
Northridge Middle School, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Faculty, Kenan Fellowship for Teacher Leadership
Kenan Institute, North Carolina State University
Learning Community Teacher of the Year
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Southeast LC, 2024-2025
2X Teacher of the Year
Northridge Middle School, 2024-2025, Druid Hills Academy, 2019-2020
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Email:
wkburges@charlotte.edu
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Phone:
704-724-1595
Click to Connect With Dr. W. Keith Burgess Online
BIO
Dr. Keith Burgess, a native of the Bronx, NY, graduated in 2001 from Johnson C. Smith University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After gaining experience in both the public and private sectors, he chose to pursue a career in STEM education. In 2018, he earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Following this achievement, Dr. Burgess pursued a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, completing his doctoral studies at UNC Charlotte in 2024. He currently serves as an Expanded Impact Teacher 3 (EIT 3) and Science Department Chair at Northridge Middle School in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Burgess is dedicated to introducing STEAM opportunities to historically underserved communities and equipping educators with best practices through state and local professional development sessions, conferences, and workshops. His doctoral research focuses on fostering STEM identities among middle-grade Black girls. As a faculty member of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership, he facilitates workshops for teachers across North Carolina. Dr. Burgess's excellence in education has been recognized through numerous accolades, including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Science and Mathematics Teachers, the Arts & Science Council Cato Excellence in Teaching Award, and multiple Teacher of the Year honors. Beyond his professional achievements, he is a proud father of three and enjoys traveling with his family and reading historical fiction and mystery novels in his leisure time.
Summer 2024
Teacher/Researcher​
National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEH)
Science, Teachers, and Summer Research (STaRS), Raleigh, NC
Summer, 2021-2023
Researcher
Teachers Disrupting for Equity
Middle Grades Collaborative, Montpelier, VT
â–« Investigating strategies used by Vermont middle grades teachers to implement equitable school wide practices.
Fall, 2021- 2023
Researcher
Faculty Self Study
Middle Grades Collaborative, Montpelier, VT
â–« Study involved understanding the group dynamics and inner workings of middle grades researchers who facilitated a summer conference in Vermont.
Summer, 2018
Researcher
3M TWIST (teachers working in science and technology) Program,
Teacher training. 3M facility, Charlotte, NC
â–« Investigated best practices for testing air quality in sterile facility.
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
2024
Forthcoming
Williams. T., Burgess, W. K. (accepted for publication, 2024). Advancing middle level leadership: Middle school principal preparation programs and leadership styles. Education Sciences.
2024
Published
Williams, T., Burgess, W. K., Luciane, M. A.(2024). Directions for new research: Middle level leadership (2024). In Brinegar K.B., Moulton, M., Falbe, K., Rintamaa, M., and Ellerbrock, C. (Eds.). Navigating Opportunities for Middle Level Education: A Research Agenda. Research in Middle Level Education (RMLE) Online.
2023
Published
DeMink-Carthew, J., Smith, K. W., Burgess, W. K., Leonard, S. Y., Yoon, B., Andrews, P. G., & Bishop, P. (2023). Navigating common challenges: Guidance for educators in racial justice work. Middle School Journal, 54(4), 25-36.
2020
Published
Burgess, W.K., & Anderson, J. L. (2020). Leveraging community partnerships to engage digitally foreign learners in response to COVID-19. Middle Grades Review, 6(2).
PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP
2024
Published
Burgess, W. K. (2024). The rearview mirror: Navigating the STEM (STEAM) identity of middle grades Black girls through online extracurricular counterspace (Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte).
2024
Published
Burgess, W.K., Clapp, A. (2024). Perspective: These two teachers from Sylva and Charlotte have cross-district co-teaching lessons for other educators. EdNC.
2022
Published
Harden, E., Anderson, J. Burgess, W. K. (2022). 6 Strategies to engage families of digitally limited learners during COVID-19. Kappa Delta Pi.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2024, November
Presenter
Burgess, W. K. (November, 2024). Bridge to STEAM: Realizing the dream of making STEAM careers a reality. Concord, NC: Burroughs Wellcome Fund Biennial STEM Education Awardees Conference. American Educational Research Association (AERA)
2024, June
Presenter
Burgess, W. K. (June, 2024). Engaging diverse learners through culturally relevant and responsive teaching. Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools New Teacher Institute.
2024, April
Presenter
Burgess, W.K., Luciano, M., Williams, T. (April, 2024). Preparation and professional development for middle level leaders. Philadelphia, PA.
2024, November
Presenter
Burgess, W.K. (November, 2024). Developing the STEM identity of middle grades Black Girls through online extracurricular STEAM programs. Nashville, TN: Association for Middle Level Education Conference.
2023, October
Presenter
Kain, D., Burgess, W.K. (October 2023). Connections and FUNding: Period! Raleigh, NC: Bridging The Gap Conference.
2023, July
Presenter
Horton, C., Burgess, W.K., Taylor, J. (July, 2023). How to leverage community partners to engage students. Winston-Salem, NC. CTE Summer Conference.
2022, November
Presenter
DeMink-Carthew, J., Smith, K.W., Burgess, W.K., Leonard, S., Yoon, B., Andrews, G., Nagle, J., Bishop, P. (November, 2022). Institutional Challenges Faced by Middle Grades Teachers as They Engage in Equity-Oriented Initiatives. Orlando, FL: Association for Middle Level Education Conference.
2020, June
Presenter
Anderson, J., Burgess, W.K.. (June 2020). You-Tube clicks and cell-fie pics: Integrating critical media literacy in the science classroom. Porto, Portugal: International Media Literacy Research Symposium. (Conference Cancelled Due To COVID)
2019, November
Presenter
Burgess, W.K. (November 2019). Strategies for creating school-wide inclusion and equity for LGBTQ middle grades students. Nashville, TN: Association for Middle Level Education Conference.
2019, November
Presenter
Burgess, W.K. (November 2019). Integrating science through STEM career exposure. Nashville, TN: Association for Middle Level Education.
2019, March
Presenter
Burgess, W.K. (March 2019 ). Examining critical issues for LGBTQ students and solutions for equity. Charlotte, NC: Teacher to Teacher Conference.
2018, November
Presenter
Burgess, W.K. (November 2018). Equitable Public education policy for LGBTQ students: Investigating how state laws help to shape a framework of equality. Nassau, Bahamas: International Conference on Urban Education.
SPEAKING INVITATIONS
2019, August
Invited Speaker
Burgess, W.K. (August 2019). Homophobia in american culture, a timeline of LGBTQ rights. Featured Speaker for Gender, Race and Sexuality in Film (WGST 2050), University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC.
2019, July
Invited Panelist
Burgess, W.K. (July 2019). 1st year expectations in graduate school. Featured guest panelist for Readings in Urban Education Research (EDCI 8660), University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC.
2019, July
Invited Panelist
Burgess, W.K. (July 2019). What does it take to be a successful PhD student. Featured guest panelist for Bigger Than High School Event, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte NC.
2019, February
Invited Speaker
Burgess, W.K., Anderson, J., Dixon-Payne, D. (February 2019) Finding your voice. Featured guest workshop host for Turning Point Academy, Charlotte, NC.
PRESENTATIONS
GRANTS
2021, December
PI: Burgess, W.K. Co-PI: Marquis Mason (December 2021). Pilots & Engineers in the Making. Bosch-Rexroth BEST Teacher Grant. $1,980. (Funded)
2021, February
PI: Burgess, W.K. (February 2021, dispersed over 5 years). Burroughs-Wellcome Career Award For Science and Math Teachers (CASMT). $175,000. (Funded)
2020, December
PI: Burgess, W.K. (December 2020). Code a Drone. Bosch-Rexroth BEST Teacher Grant. $1,621. (Funded)
2020, May
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PI: Burgess, W. K., Anderson, J., Mack, V. (May 2020). STEM app: Addressing the STEM needs of urban adolescents through an online platform. NIH Ventureprise. $5,000. (Funded)
2020, April
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PI: Burgess, W. K., Co-PI: Anderson, J.L., & Clapp, A. (April 2020). The Digital Science Blog Project. Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). $3,000. (Funded)
2020, March
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PI: Burgess, W.K. (December 2019). Flying high with STEM: Integrating coding with drone technology. Burroughs-Wellcome Fund PRISM Grant. $4,000. (Funded)
2019, December
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PI: Burgess, W.K. (December 2019). On Par 4 STEM at Druid Hills Academy. Bosch-Rexroth BE3ST Teacher Grant. $1,600. (Funded)
2019, November
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PI: Burgess, W.K. (November 2019). Integrating science through STEM career exposure. Association for Middle Level Education Innovative Classroom Challenge Grant. $500. (Funded)
2019, September
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PI: Burgess, W.K. (September 2019). Heroes and sheroes learning coding with Spheros. Donors Choose Grant. $973. (Funded)
AWARDS AND HONORS
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FELLOWSHIPS
2019-2020
Kenan Fellow
The Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership addresses the critical need for high-quality professional development for educators, and is the largest STEM-focused teacher leadership program in North Carolina. Approximately 25-50 outstanding K–12 teachers from across the state are selected annually for this year-long program. Key components are a three-week summer internship with a mentor in a research or applied STEM setting.
2020-2021
Visiting Doctoral Fellow
University of Vermont
The Visiting Doctoral Scholars Fellowship is sponsored by the University of Vermont and assists in facilitating the Middle Grades Institute, held in Vermont every summer. During the course of the conference visiting fellows join the faculty and consult, offer workshops, collaborate on research, or serve as a participant-observer. The fellowship covers the cost of airfare to Burlington, Vermont, and provides on-campus housing and meals for the duration of the program. Fellowships are open to students enrolled in a PhD program with the intent of pursuing dissertation research in the field of middle grades education.
Summer/Fall 2020
CTI Fellow
Each year the Charlotte Teacher Institute (CTI) awards fellowships to Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS) educators that demonstrate a commitment to providing students with engaging, and effective instruction that is grounded in community alliances. CTI is an innovative partnership among CMS, UNC Charlotte, and Johnson C. Smith University, and is made possible by a joint commitment of resources and energy from all three Institute partners. Recognizing that classroom-teachers possess first-hand knowledge regarding student needs, CTI depends on its fellows to select topics that will interest teachers and enhance student learning.
PROFESSIONAL AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
Association for Middle Level
Education (AMLE)
North Carolina Association for
Middle Level Education
Urban Educators for Change, UNC Charlotte
The National Society of Leadership and Success
Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education, UNC Charlotte
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
CONTACT ME
Dr. Wally Keith Burgess
Educator and STEM Consultant
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Phone:
704-724-1595
Email:
wkburges@charlotte.edu
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