We are honored to share that Burrell School District has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Lighthouse Award by AASA, The School Superintendents Association. This national recognition is a reflection of the deep, collaborative work being done across all of our schools to empower students to learn, create, lead, and succeed—the heart of our mission.
For Assistant Principal Krista Pisano of Huston Middle School, representing the district at the AASA National Conference alongside Dr. Turk was a meaningful moment. "It was truly an honor to represent our district’s achievement with the Lighthouse Award," she said. "We may be small, but we’re doing amazing things. It’s exciting to see our work recognized nationally. I’m grateful to serve the community where I was raised and help students become successful, well-rounded citizens."
A District-Wide Commitment to Future-Ready Learning
From Bon Air Elementary to Burrell High School, our commitment to meeting every student “by name and by need” is driving innovation in classrooms and beyond. At the core of our approach is the belief that students thrive when their learning is personal, purposeful, and connected to the real world.
At Bon Air and Stewart Elementary, we’re embedding project-based learning experiences that foster student agency and promote self-awareness from the earliest grades. By using high-quality instructional materials grounded in the science of reading, we are laying the foundation for future academic success while nurturing curiosity and confidence.
At Huston Middle School, that momentum continues. Students engage in personalized learning plans, participate in career field trips, and explore passions through projects like the HMS Coffee Cart, Junior Achievement’s Biztown, SDG community improvement projects, and upcoming studio courses designed around career pathways. These experiences empower students to connect learning with purpose, agency, and real-world relevance.
At Burrell High School, our students begin each year by completing learner profiles, giving teachers insight into their strengths, interests, and motivations. Students use this perspective to take part in programs that help them prepare for the future, like the Re-Imagine Senior Year Seminar. They explore careers, work with employers, and ask questions to plan their next steps after graduation.
Our cross-curricular courses—such as Investigative Sciences and Literature, Environmental Literature, the P.A.E.S. Lab, Aspiring Educators, PNC Partner-Up, and the Catalyst Connections Pre-Apprenticeship Program—immerse students in collaborative, hands-on experiences aligned with real workforce opportunities.
Support, Connection, and Community at the Core
Behind every student experience is a powerful support system. Our Personalized Learning Coaches and Future Readiness Coordinator work closely with teachers to design instruction that aligns with student interests and industry trends. Through our multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and trauma-informed training, we ensure that students not only learn, but feel supported emotionally and socially along the way.
As a district, we’ve stayed focused on our strategic goals over the past five years to ensure depth and sustainability in our work. Our professional learning communities (PLCs)—now in their eighth year—have been central to our curriculum and instruction. This year, we enhanced that collaboration by adding monthly planning and collaboration days, replacing early dismissals and protecting instructional time for students while creating space for teacher-driven innovation.
We’ve also deepened family and community engagement through fireside chats, community connections events, and consistent outreach. These relationships continue to be a cornerstone of our ability to provide students with relevant, real-world opportunities.
Looking Ahead: Innovation at Every Level
Receiving the Lighthouse Award is an honor—but more importantly, it’s a reminder of what’s possible when a district remains focused, collaborative, and student-centered. This recognition reflects the collective effort of our educators, administrators, support staff, families, and community partners.
Looking forward, we plan to continue building on this momentum by:
- Introducing more creativity and innovation opportunities at the elementary level,
- Expanding the studio model at Huston Middle School for arts and humanities exploration,
- Deepening high school integration of future-readiness skills across all pathways.
We envision a future where every Burrell student is not only career-ready but thriving—with the confidence, skills, and self-awareness to choose a path that excites and fulfills them.
We are incredibly proud of this recognition and grateful for the opportunity to keep growing and learning—together.