Pleasant Hill Superintendent Wayne Burke to Leave District After 2026-27 School Year
By Connie Whitlock
Publishing Editor
Pleasant Hill R-III Superintendent Dr. Wayne Burke has announced that the 2026-27 school year will be his final year with the district.
In a letter dated Sept. 18, Burke said he and the Pleasant Hill R-III Board of Education reached the decision after “considerable reflection” and described it as a mutual agreement. His final day with the district will be June 30, 2027.
Burke said the early announcement is intended to give the Board of Education adequate time to recruit and hire the district’s next superintendent.
“The Board of Education and I made the decision to announce early to provide our Board with an appropriate and effective timeline for recruitment and hiring of your next superintendent,” Burke wrote.
Burke also emphasized that he intends to remain fully engaged throughout his remaining school year, referencing his belief in “plowing to the edge of the field.”
In his message to district families and staff, Burke reflected on his time in Pleasant Hill and praised the relationship between the schools and the community.
“Working in the Pleasant Hill R-3 district has been one of my greatest privileges,” Burke wrote. He highlighted community participation in school events, particularly Homecoming, and said he is proud of accomplishments during his tenure, including new construction, safety upgrades and expanded curricular offerings.
Burke thanked the Board of Education for its support and expressed appreciation to the community.
“We still have many moments to share, much work to do, and I look forward to making every day count,” he wrote.
The district has not yet provided details in the letter about the timeline or process for selecting Burke’s successor.