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College of Education

Research Area(s)

  • organizational modelling and analysis; educational and administrative law

About

Dr David Burgess is Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Saskatchewan; he is currently on leave following administrative service as Associate Dean. His research and teaching interests include philosophy of organization, organization theory and organizational modelling, university administration, educational law, and methods in legal instruction and research. He has published internationally on these topics, and has been an invited presenter at national and international conferences on the subjects of the history and organization of Canadian educational administration and educational law, international comparative educational administration, and methods in legal instruction. Burgess' current research projects are principally focused on agent-based modeling (ABM) of schools, computer algorithms for the matching of interns with professional field-based mentors, on the statistical generation of synthetic pre-kindergarten to grade 12 school populations for use in organizational analysis, artificial neural networks for educational policy support, and on Bayesian network informed design of computer-based organizational simulations and administrative decision-making tools.

Dr Burgess has co-authored or edited five books—including a foundational history of the academic debates in the study of educational administration (with colleague Newton) and other works on decision-making and governance in educational organizations—and several articles published in the field of educational administration and educational research; his two books on educational law in Saskatchewan (with colleagues Walker, Chomos, and Donlevy) and Ontario (with colleagues Kutsyuruba, Walker, and Donlevy) are used as primary textbooks in Saskatchewan and Ontario undergraduate (pre-service) teacher education in the administration of schools. His recent international pro bono work includes consultation and research in partnership with the Jamaican Ministry of Education and the Mexican principals' organization Interleader; ongoing inter-university partnership development with Capital Normal University (Beijing) and Tianjin Normal University in China, University of Dhaka in Bangladesh, the University of Barcelona in Spain, Stirling University in Scotland, and Newcastle University in England; university-school partnership development with Maple Leaf Education Systems (Dalian) in China, Columbia International School (Saitama) in Japan, British Columbia International School of Bangkok in Thailand, and Canadian International School of Thailand (Bangkok); as well as school-improvement initiatives in Mozambique.

Dr Burgess holds considerable practical experience in the design and successful implementation of responsibility-centred management (RCM) and decentralized budget models, with a particular focus on workload equity and efficient program delivery in universities. His university teaching has concentrated in the history of organizational theory, philosophy of organization, and educational and administrative law. He maintains a teaching license in New Brunswick with a specialization in secondary social and political sciences, and history. In 2009, Dr Burgess was the recipient of the Thomas B. Greenfield Dissertation Award, Canadian Association for the Study of Educational Administration (CASEA), for the outstanding Canadian doctoral dissertation in educational administration.

Within the University context, Burgess has served as Department Head and Graduate Chair in Educational Administration, and as Associate Dean (Research, Graduate Support, and International Initiatives) in the College of Education. Additionally, he served as vice-chair of the University Planning and Priorities Committee of Council, as the Director of the Saskatchewan Educational Leadership Unit (SELU), as Editor-in-Chief of the SELU Research Review Journal, and as co-editor of the Journal of Educational Administration and Foundations (JEAF; now Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy). External to the University, Dr Burgess was formerly a consultant with the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN/NGLS) in Geneva, Switzerland, and he has served on the Board of Directors for Jubilee Residences in Saskatoon—a non-profit corporation and affiliate of the Saskatoon Health Region established in 1955 providing long-term care facilities.

Dr Burgess is currently accepting graduate students with a research focus on agent-based modelling in educational organizations or micro-economic analysis of schools and universities.

Education

  • PhD, University of Saskatchewan, 2008
  • MEd (Thesis), University of Saskatchewan, 2003
  • BEd (Distinction), University of New Brunswick, 2006
  • BA (Honours), University of Saskatchewan, 1997

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching 

  • EADM 303 - Schools in Society: Structures, Systems, and Stakeholders
  • EADM 411 - Schools and the Zombie Apocalypse
  • EADM 425 - Legal and Institutional Contexts of Education
  • EADM 498 - Organization and Administration of Education in China

Graduate Teaching

  • EADM 811 - History and Development of Organizational Theory
  • EADM 825 - Educational and Administrative Law
  • EADM 881 - Organizational Paradigms and Analysis
  • EADM 892 - Organization and Administration of Education in China
  • EADM 892 - Educational Administration and the Zombie Apocalypse
  • EADM 894 - Laboratory in Educational Administration
  • EADM 990 - Doctoral Seminar 
  • EADM 991 - Educational Leadership: Field-Based Applications

Research

  • Organizational Modelling, Simulation, Decision-Making, and Analysis
  • Agent-Based Modelling in Education
  • Educational and Administrative Law
  • University Administration and Responsibility-Centred Management (RCM)

Graduate Supervision

Theses and Dissertations Completed

  • Huang, M. (2017). Challenges for Chinese international university graduate students in Canadian anglophone classrooms. [MEd] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan.
  • Steeves, J. (2017). The university as political: Understanding the purpose of a students’ union in western Canada. [PhD] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan.
  • Madani, M. (2017). A mixed-methods policy analysis of grade 8 stakeholders’ perceptions pertaining to the intention and implementation of French immersion programming. [PhD] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan.
  • Gustafson, B. (2015). The second apprenticeship: An exploratory mixed methods study of the transition from tradesperson to teacher. [PhD] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan.
  • Mueller, R. (2013). Models of organizational values in the administration of university student services. [PhD] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan — National Greenfield Dissertation Award Recipient.
  • Hardie, R. (2011). Principals’ perceptions of the key factors of sustainable leadership for school improvement: A mixed methods research study. [PhD] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan.
  • Sylvester, J. (2011). An analysis of market reform trends in Saskatchewan public education. [MEd] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan.
  • Squires, V. (2010). A policy study of the emergence of a joint interdisciplinary school. [PhD] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan (Co-supervised with Dr. Patrick Renihan).
  • Gress, H. (2009). Rural routes: A study of rural high school graduate life transitions. [MEd] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan.
  • Jutras, M. (2009). A study of previously disengaged physical education students within a modular physical education course. [MEd] Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan.

Selected Publications

  • Riveros, A., Newton, P., & Burgess, D. (2017). Leadership standards and the discursive repositioning of leadership, leaders, and non-leaders: A critical examination. In G. Lakomski, S. Eacott, & C. Evers (Eds.) Questioning leadership: New directions for educational organizations (pp. 21). New York: Routledge.
  • Newton, P. & Burgess, D. (Eds.). (2016). The best available evidence: Decision-making for educational improvement. Dordrecht, NL: Sense.
  • Prytula, M., Burgess, D., & Solheim, J. (2015). Innovations in online compatibility matching for mentorship: placement.usask.ca. Proceedings of the 26th International Conference of the Society for Information Technology and Education, 2015(1), 2241-2247.
  • Burgess, D. & Newton, P. (Eds.). (2014). Educational administration and leadership: Theoretical foundations. New York: Routledge.
  • Newton, P. & Burgess, D. (2014). “Introduction.” In D. Burgess & P. Newton (Eds.), Educational administration and leadership: Theoretical foundations (pp. 1-8). New York: Routledge.
  • Burgess, D. & Newton, P. (2014). “Examining the Antecedents of Methodological Diversity in Contemporary Educational Administration.” In D. Burgess & P. Newton (Eds.), Educational administration and leadership: Theoretical foundations (pp. 11-29). New York: Routledge.
  • Burgess, D., Walker, K., Chomos, J., & Donlevy, JK. (2014). A guide to Saskatchewan school law (3rd ed.). Saskatoon, SK: Turning Point.
  • Kutsyuruba, B., Burgess, D., Walker, K., & Donlevy, JK. (2013). A guide to Ontario school law. Kingston, ON: Turning Point.
  • Riveros, A., Newton, P., & Burgess, D. (2012). A situated account of teacher agency and learning: Critical reflections on professional learning communities. Canadian Journal of Education, 35(1), 202-216.
  • Otero, L. & Burgess, D. (2011). Freedom of conscience and religion in Québec schools: An examination of the cases L. (S.) c. Des Chênes (Commission scolaire) and Loyola High School c. Courchesne.  Education & Law Journal, 21(1), 87-100.
  • Burgess, D. (2011). Reflections on the use of visual representations of legal and institutional constructs as assignments in legal education for pre-service teachers in Canada. In M Araszkiewicz, M Myška, T Smejkalová, J Šavelka, & M Škop (Eds.) Proceedings of Argumentation 2011—International Conference on Alternative Methods of Argumentation in Law (pp. 123-166). Brno, Czech Republic: Masaryk University Faculty of Law.
  • Burgess, D. (2010). Saskatchewan Court of Appeal holds anti-homosexual behaviour education pamphlets do not violate Human Rights Code. Education & Law Journal, 20(2), 177-181.
  • Newton, P., Burgess, D., & Burns, D. (2010). Models in educational administration: Revisiting Willower’s “theoretically oriented” critique. Educational Management, Administration, and Leadership, 38(5), 578-590. 
  • Walker, K., Chomos, J., & Burgess, D. (2009). A guide to Saskatchewan school law (2nd ed.). Saskatoon, SK: SELU. 
  • Newton, P. & Burgess, D. (2008). Exploring types of educational action research: Implications for research validity. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 7(4), 18-30.
  • Burgess, D. & Newton, P. (2008). The representation of professional identity through online social networking websites. Proceedings of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) 36th Annual Conference. Vancouver, Canada: University of British Columbia.
  • Newton, P., Burgess, D., & Robinson, S. (2007). Policy narrative for Saskatchewan.  In A. S. Chan, D. Fisher, & K. Rubenson (Eds.), The evolution of professionalism: Educational policy in the provinces and territories of Canada (pp. 49-64). Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia.

Selected International Presentations

  • Burgess, D. & Solheim, J. (2020). Simulating Schools for Policy Development. Southeast Asian Conference on Education (SEACE), Singapore.
  • Burgess, D., Solheim, J., Chernoff, E., Prytula, M., & Newton, P. (2018). Computer-based models and simulations of schools for administrative decision-making: A Bayesian network approach. Commonwealth Council on Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) International Conference, Qawra, Malta. 
  • Prytula, M., Solheim, J., & Burgess, D. (2018). Computerized and compatibility-based pre-service internship matching: A five-year summary. Commonwealth Council on Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) International Conference, Qawra, Malta. 
  • Burgess, D., Newton, P., & Riveros, A. (2016). Educational administration, leadership, and zombies: The zombie apocalypse as a window into educational change. 9th Annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation (ICERI), Seville, Spain. 
  • Prytula, M., Burgess, D., Solheim, J., & Nahachewsky, M. (2016). Online dating websites as inspiration for pre-service teacher practicum matching and partnered internships. 9th Annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation (ICERI), Seville, Spain.
  • Burgess, D. & Prytula, M. (2015). Distributed leadership and participative evaluation: Models for teacher and principal engagement [Liderazgo distríbuido y evaluación participativa: Modelos de involucramiento para docentes y directores en educación]. El Liderazgo Educativo en el Contexto de las Reformas Educativas Internacionales, Desafíos y Nuevas Posibilidades [Educational Leadership in the Context of International Educational Reforms: Challenges and New Possibilities], Interleader & Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, Chetumal, Mexico.
  • Burgess, D. (2015). Educational leadership programming in Canada. Curso Internacional para Educadores: El Liderazgo y la Dirección en las Comunidades de Aprendizaje [International Course for Educators: Leadership and Direction in Learning Communities], Interleader & Red de Gestión Comparada con Enfoque Internacional, Orizaba, Mexico.
  • Burgess, D., Newton, P., Parker, L., & Prytula, M. (2015). Innovation and contemporary trends in educational leadership: The integration of leadership in learning communities [Innovación y tendencias educativas actuals en liderazgo: La integralidad del liderazgo en las comunidades de aprendizaje]. Escuela Normal Experimental de Colotlán [Experimental Normal School of Colotlán], Interleader & Gobierno del Estado Secretaria de Educación Jalisco, Colotlán, Mexico.
  • Acosta, M., Burgess, D., Diaz, M., Newton, P., Prytula, M., & Parker, L. (2015). Trends in educational leadership in Canada: The integration of leadership in learning communities [Tendencias Canadienses educativas actuals en liderazgo: La integralidad del liderazgo en las comunidades de aprendizaje]. Instituto Superior de Investigación y Docencia para el Magisterio [Higher Institute of Research and Instruction for Educators], Interleader & Gobierno del Estado Secretaria de Educación Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico.
  • Burgess, D., Newton, P., & Parker, L. (2015). The integration of educational leadership: Policy, research, and practice [La integralidad del liderazgo educativo: Políticas, investigación, y práctica]. Simposio Internacional: Liderazgo y Dirección de Organizaciones Educativas [International Simposium: Leadership and Direction for Educational Organizations], Interleader & Universidad Marista, Guadalajara, Mexico.
  • Prytula, M., Burgess, D., & Solheim, J. (2015). Innovations in online compatibility matching for mentorship: placement.usask.ca. Proceedings of 26th International Conference of the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, Las Vegas, United States.
  • Prytula, M., Solheim, J., & Burgess, D. (2015). Innovations from the dating scene: Online mentorship compatibility matching through placement.usask.ca. Clute 2015 International Education Conference, Kaanapali, United States.
  • Prytula, M., Solheim, J., & Burgess, D. (2015). Comparison of intern and mentor application responses for placement.usask.ca. Clute 2015 International Education Conference, Kaanapali, United States.
  • Riveros, A., Newton, P., & Burgess, D. (2014). Agency and leadership: Exploring the assumptions behind conceptualizations of leadership in Canadian policy documents. Commonwealth Council on Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) International Conference, Fredericton, Canada.
  • Burgess, D. & Newton, P. (2013). A comparison of the qualification standards for superintendents of education in Canadian provincial jurisdictions. British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS) Annual Conference, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
  • Burgess, D. (2012). Visualizing statute and case law in legal education for Canadian schoolteachers.  Rechtswissenschaftliches Institut—Zentrum für rechtsgeschichtliche Forschung, University of Zurich, Internationale Konferenz zum Multisensorischen Recht / International Conference on Multisensory Law, Munich, Germany.
  • Peters, F., Newton, P., & Burgess, D. (2012). The changing contexts of principal preparation programs: Alberta and Saskatchewan. Commonwealth Council on Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) International Conference, Limassol, Cyprus.
  • Burgess, D. (2011). Reflections on the use of visual representations of legal and institutional constructs as assignments in legal education for pre-service teachers in Canada. Masaryk University Faculty of Law, Argumentation 2011—International Conference on Alternative Methods of Argumentation in Law, Brno, Czech Republic.
  • Burgess, D. & Newton, P. (2010). An Analysis of Academic Educational Administration in the Commonwealth. Commonwealth Council on Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) and Australian Council for Educational Leadership (ACEL) International Conference, Sydney, Australia.
  • Riveros, A., Newton, P., & Burgess, D. (2010). A Critique of Professional Learning Communities in Canada from a Situated Cognition Perspective. Commonwealth Council on Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) and Australian Council for Educational Leadership (ACEL) International Conference, Sydney, Australia.
  • Burgess, D. & Newton, P. (2010). Academic educational administration in ten Commonwealth countries. British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS) Annual Conference, Reading, United Kingdom.
  • Burgess, D. (2010). Academic educational administration in eleven countries: Trends and issues. Faculty of Education, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.
  • Burgess, D. & Newton, P. (2008). International educational leadership, administration, and management programme inventory: Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Commonwealth Council on Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) Conference, Durban, South Africa.
  • Newton, P. & Burgess, D. (2008). International educational leadership, administration and management programme inventory. British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS) Annual Conference, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
  • Burgess, D., Newton, P., & Wimmer, R. (2008). The representation of professional identity through online social networking websites. Fourth International Conference on Technology, Knowledge & Society, Northeastern University, Boston, United States.

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