.February 10, 2011: Rob Schleck, Principal of Burdick School

     We were very grateful to have Dr. Rob Schleck Principal of Burdick School in Milwaukee as a guest this morning. First off, Mr. Schleck told us his background and how he came to be Principal of Burdick School.
     He worked at Logan Center for the Mentally Disabled, and then later at Northern Mental Disability Center. He reports that these jobs were very difficult, but he also says that he learned everyone has something to contribute. Then he worked in construction during the day and took UWM grad school at night. After he was done with school, he got a job teaching emotionally disturbed kids at MPS. Then he moved to autistic children which prepared him for handling staff at Madison HS where he did a month stint as the principal. Then he was asked to be the assistant principal for the rest of the year. After that year, he was asked to start a school for the mentally disturbed for 90 kids. There was a teacher and a para in each room and a probation officer on site. They handled physical confrontations between students every day for 4 years. After this job he moved to Burdick school in 1989. There were all sorts of problems at the school at that time. The student body was 89% African American and students were not there to learn. There was a lot of tension. Mr Schleck said "We have to take back this school." Over the next summer the teachers he had hired during the previous year met once a week with assignments to get ready for August and the new school year. The saying was "Either jump on the steamroller or become part of the road." Basicly their program gave power back to the teachers. They could use suspension of a child if necessary.
    Mr.Schleck learned how to look at staff and determine their positives. Everyone has positives. He needed to earn their trust and back up his staff. He says he began practicing creative insubordination where the district administration was concerned. He was able to turn the school around so that parents began moving to the area so their children could go to Burdick School.
     Each day starts at the school with a complete general assembly of all the kids and teachers. This gets the day off to a good start and emphasizes the community of the school.
    Mr. Schleck and his staff developed a behavioral system which consisted of 6 groups of 3 steps each. These are called demerits and detensions. The kids serve them at the noon hour and couseling is involved with the kids at this time. If a student gets three of these, then the student goes to the bar (the behavior adjustment room). All staff in manning the bar. Another 3 demerits and the student appears before staff, another 3 and there is a suspension, etc, each group of 3 results in more severe activities. But fewer and fewer students have moved beyond the first set of 3 remedies. Teachers have become in charge of their classroom. They have the power to suspend students. It is extremely important not to embarass the students. Discipline must be done outside the classroom so student is removed from the room and then a discussion about the behavior is undertaken. This saves face for the student.
     We were very happy to hear how Robert Schleck has turned around Burdick School and about his methods which seem to have worked dramtically.