Dick Burke for School Committee

Why I’m Running

I’m Richard Burke, but most people call me Dick. I’m running for re-election to the Lenox School Committee, and I’m asking for your vote on May 11.

I believe Lenox schools are one of the things that make our town strong. When people choose to move here, stay here, or come back here, they are choosing the schools and everything that comes with them.

The schools affect the whole community, not just students and parents, but neighborhoods, local businesses, property values, and the future of Lenox itself.

Read My Q&A Learn About Dick

“The schools are one of the reasons people choose to move here and live here. I want to make sure we don’t lose that.”

Why Lenox Schools Matter to Me

I know that schools change lives because my school changed mine.

I grew up on a farm, one of eight kids. My dad worked at the GE factory. He never went to college. My mom never graduated from high school.

But they worked hard to give me the opportunity to succeed. And the teachers saw something in me that gave me the life I have today.

Whether a student wants to become a professor, wants to excel as an electrician or a plumber, or sees a future in the arts or sports, I want to be sure they have that opportunity in Lenox.

Why Lenox Schools Matter to the Whole Town

I’m not a one-issue candidate. I’m running because I believe good schools are one of the things that keep Lenox strong — for students, for families, and for the future of the town.

That means staying focused on what matters most:

• supporting strong teaching and academic fundamentals
• preparing students for a changing world, including new technologies
• making sure every student has the opportunity to succeed

Education is one of the few things a community cannot afford to get wrong. It shapes not just today’s students, but the future of the town.

Meet Dick

My wife Debbie and I have lived in Lenox for more than 40 years. Over that time, I’ve come to care deeply about this town, its people, and the schools that help define its future.

My background is in education, engineering, and academic leadership. I’ve spent much of my career teaching students, leading programs, and helping institutions think seriously about quality, standards, and long-term success. That work is grounded in my long career in higher education, including faculty and department leadership roles at SUNY Maritime College, RPI, and other institutions.

Here in Lenox, I’ve also served the community in other ways, including on the Conservation Commission, the Finance Committee, and now the School Committee. I’ve also been active in my church community, serving in leadership roles.

I’m running because I want to help protect one of the things that makes Lenox such a special place to live: strong schools and strong opportunities for every student.

Learn More About Dick

Dick Burkefor Lenox School Committee

Why I’m Running

“The schools are one of the reasons people choose to move here and live here. I want to make sure we don’t lose that.”

Why Lenox Schools Matter to Me

Why Lenox Schools Matter to the Whole Town

Meet Dick

“You cannot change a student’s life in 15 minutes.

“But you can create the opportunities with policy, leadership and the resources to make it possible to change every student’s life at some time.”