Caddo Parish Schools superintendent to deliver LSUS commencement address

Caddo Parish Schools superintendent to deliver LSUS commencement address

SHREVEPORT - "You will never regret choosing a career where your work shapes the future."

When Caddo Parish Schools superintendent Keith Burton addresses an arena full of LSU Shreveport graduates at the Dec. 19 commencement ceremony, this will be his response should anyone ask him about a career in education.

In a time when school districts nationwide are lighting the education beacon hoping to attract more professionals to its flame, Burton said the challenging work has never mattered more.

"Education is one of the most meaningful and powerful professions you can choose," said Burton, who completed his first full year as the Caddo superintendent this fall and 34^th in education overall. "It is challenging work, but it is work that matters every single day.

"Teachers change lives. They give students confidence, hope, and opportunities they may not find anywhere else."

Burton was certainly shaped in the classroom, which included graduating from Doyline High in Webster Parish.

After completing his LSUS bachelor's degree in education in 1991, Burton set foot in the classroom as a history and math teacher while working on his master's in educational leadership from LSUS.

"LSUS played a foundational role in shaping who I became as an educator and a leader," Burton said. "It is where I learned how to think, how to serve, and how to lead with purpose.

"My professors challenged me and supported me. They helped me understand the responsibility that comes with teaching and the impact that strong leadership can have on a school and a community. LSUS gave me the tools to walk into a classroom confident and prepared, to step into school leadership with clarity, and ultimately to lead a district with a focus on students reaching their full potential."

Burton assisted the parish's academic climb from a seat in the district administration, first as the Chief Academic Officer starting in 2013, and then as superintendent starting in 2024.

Caddo Parish Schools achieved a 'B' rating for the first time in its history in 2024 in metrics from the Louisiana Department of Education.

The district maintained that letter grade in 2025 with a nearly full-point increase to reach a score of 76.6, becoming the highest rated urban school district in the state.

Ten individual schools increased their performance by a letter grade in 2025.

Burton said the growth of Caddo schools combined with LSUS's growth as an institution means students don't have to leave the parish to receive an excellent education.

"Caddo Parish is a place where students can learn, grow, and thrive from Pre-K through college," said Burton, who has also served as an elementary and middle school principal. "The progress we are seeing in our schools and at LSUS reflects years of focused work by dedicated educators, and a community that values education.

"Students in Caddo can enter our system as early as age three, graduate with industry-based credentials, dual enrollment credits, and real-life experiences, and then continue their education at a university that is excelling on the state and national stage. The strength of our K-12 system paired with the strength of LSUS sends a powerful message - this community invests in its young people and believes in their future."

LSUS is attracting students from across the state and the country with its fifth-straight semester of record-breaking enrollment (11,359 in Fall 2025).

The university has posted 18 straight graduating classes of more than 1,000 students as LSUS confers more graduate degrees than any Louisiana institution and is second only to LSU in overall degrees awarded this past year.

Burton wants to see more of those graduates consider education - whether they choose traditional teacher preparation programs (four-year degrees) or alternative teaching certifications for professionals desiring a career shift.

His wife Tina retired as an educator while all three of his children are also in the education field.

"Our family has been blessed by this profession," Burton said. "If someone is considering the traditional college route, I encourage them to lean into it and take advantage of every learning opportunity," Burton said. "If they are considering a career shift, I want them to know that it is never too late to make a difference.

"Our schools need people with diverse life experiences, strong work ethics, and a heart for children. Education is a calling, but it is also a community."

LSUS has a robust bachelor's degree in education buoyed by the innovative Pilot Education Center on the second floor of the Business and Education Building.

The university's master's degrees in curriculum and instruction and in educational leadership are two of the most popular, preparing more than 400 graduates per year to be more effective in the classroom and in administration.