Pike Liberal Arts School has named a new headmaster after the departure of Becky Baggett for Crenshaw Christian Academy in June.

Board president Jacqui Chirico said school officials are happy to name Eric Burkett, former assistant principal at Greenville High School, to the position.

“We’re very excited to have him,” Chirico said. “He’s fairly young and he’ll have young kids at the school. He’s got a vested interest to see the school grow and do well. He’s got a lot of good experience to bring on board and we’re really excited to have him.”

Chirico said Burkett will be able to come in and lead the school with strong Christian values.

“He’ll continue to bring those values and he’ll be a good Christian leader,” Chirico said. “Mr. Burkett joins us with over 10 years of experience in the Alabama public school system … He has administrative experience in the oversight of school safety planning, continuous quality improvement, teacher evaluations, facility maintenance and operations, and student discipline.

“Prior to his appointment as assistant principal, he served in a leadership position as instructional coach in the Butler County School System providing support to teachers in instructional strategies and lesson planning. Mr. Burkett also has classroom teaching experience as a high school English teacher as well as experience in athletics as a basketball and football coach and assisting the athletic director with the execution of the athletic director’s duties.”

Burkett received his Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism in 2000 from Troy University. He received his Master’s degree and Education Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership from Auburn University at Montgomery in 2014 and 2016. He is enrolled in an Advanced Educational Leadership doctoral program at Regent University and expected to graduate spring of 2020.

Burkett and his wife, Amy, have been married for 16 years. Both grew up in Butler County and are graduates of Greenville Academy. They have three children, daughter Riley age 9, son Landon age 7, and son Will age 2.

Burkett will assume the role officially on July 16.

“He has already begun working on teacher assignments and interviewing prospective teachers to fill vacant positions,” Chirico said. “We are excited to welcome them all as Patriots.”