New Dimensions Charter School
We are the Warriors!
New Dimensions Charter School: A Public Charter School
What is a Warrior? We, Are, Responsible, Respectful, Insightful, Organized, Relentless Students!
At this school, every child will learn.
Every kid. Every day. No excuses.
Dr. David Burleson
New Dimensions Charter School is pleased to announce that after an extensive application process, Dr. David Burleson has been selected as the new Director for the 2019-20 school year.
Mrs. Regina Rhodes, New Dimensions Board Chair stated, "The Board of Directors is honored to welcome Dr. Burleson to our Warrior family. He brings over 30 years of experience in education and team building. His passion for student education aligns with the mission and vision of New Dimensions School. We look forward to working with Dr. Burleson to continue to provide our students an excellent education and experiences.”
Dr. Burleson is a graduate of Appalachian State University with an Ed.D. in Educational Administration. He began his career in education at Freedom High School as a math teacher and coach. He served as assistant principal of that school through 1991 until becoming the principal of what was then Oak Hill Junior High School. He returned to Freedom as principal in l992 and remained in this capacity until moving into the associate superintendent’s position in l996. Dr. Burleson became superintendent in 2000 and held that position until June 30, 2009. Under his leadership, the school system was awarded the prestigious National Magna Award of Excellence for its Pre-K mobile education on wheels. His unparalleled list of accomplishments include the following: assisted in developing the Burke County Public Schools’ Drug Policy and Student Code of Conduct, created summer camps for students, procured millions of dollars in grant monies to address student need/creative programming, and realized alternative educational programs for those who need a different approach to education.
Also, during Dr. Burleson’s tenure as Burke School’s superintendent, the county experienced the lowest dropout rate in the public school system’s history. Dr. Burleson continued his educational career at North Forsyth High School as Principal from 2009-2010 and became the Assistant Superintendent for Winston-Salem Forsyth County High Schools from 2010-11. The last educational position Dr. Burleson held was as the superintendent of Avery County Schools, a position he held from July 2011 to June 2017. Dr. Burleson has recently spentover two years as the executive director of the Burke United Christian Ministries.
Professionally, he has received local, regional and state Principal of the Year Awards in 1993 and 1994, Burke County Educational Office Personnel Administrator of the Year Awards for four years, 2001 North Carolina Middle School Association Superintendent of the Year Award, the 2005 United Way Community Builders Award, the 2007 Burke County Man of the Year award, the 2007 United Hmong Association Community Service Award, 2007 Regional Superintendent of the Year, the 2014 Mayland Community College Avery County Citizen of the Year, the 2014 Avery County Man of the Year, the 2016 North Carolina High School Athletic Association Superintendent of the Year and recipient of North Carolina’s Highest Civilian honor, the Honor of the Long Leaf Pine, as well as acknowledgement for several published articles and innovative presentations.
Dr. Burleson is very active in church and in community affairs, he has a litany of volunteer and leadership accolades including church member, deacon, Sunday school teacher, and an active participant in the Morganton Rotary Club, Tar Heel Association of Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Burke County Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the North Carolina Standards Board, Chairman of the ASU Governing board, Past Chairman of the Northwest Superintendent’s Council, Chairman of the North Carolina Compliance Commission and member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Dr. Burleson service on several local community boards and committees for a better Burke County includes: Burke County Council on Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency (Vice-President), Boy Scouts Board of Directors, Lifegains Board of Directors (Past-President), Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board of Directors, Hospice Board of Directors, Burke Alliance for Youth, Families, and Education (Charter Member), Blue Ridge Health Care Foundation Board of Directors, Burke Partners for Economic Growth Board of Directors, Homes for Hearts Inc. Board of Directors (Past President), Burke County United Way Board of Directors and 2006 Campaign Chair (2009 President), Burke County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2008 President). In Avery County, he was the President of the Avery Rotary Club, Chairman of the Williams YMCA Board of Directors, Cannon Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, Vice-Chairman of Smart Start, Board of Directors of the High Country United Way (Chairman of the Board 2013-2014), and Member of JCPC. Currently, he is a Member of Burke County Smart Start Member of Burke Augustine Literacy Project and Member of the Conflict Resolution Center Board of Directors. He has a broad spectrum of other interests which mainly involve being a Civil War enthusiast, motorcycle rider and spending time with family.
He is married to Beth Dayton Burleson formerly of Spruce Pine, Vice-President and CFO of James Tool. They have two daughters, Heather, an attorney in Raleigh and Shannon, a science teacher at Athens Drive High School also in Raleigh along with two grandchildren, Charlotte and Hayden.
Dr. David Burleson and his family are very excited about returning to his love, the education of young people as the Director of New Dimensions Charter School. He will begin this position on August 1, 2019.
-School Calendar 2019-2020 - Sheet1 (2).pdf