New Lee County Superintendent Joe Burke, center, is sworn in by Lee County circuit court judge John Carlin, left, while Burke's wife, Judy, right, holds the Bible at the Lee County Public Education Center in Fort Myers on July 1, 2011. Burke was formerly the superintendent of Monroe County Schools. Photo by Greg Kahn.

COCOA BEACH — Joseph Burke considers himself a very lucky man.

“I am extremely excited to get started,” he said after taking the oath of office Friday to become Lee County’s newest superintendent. “Over the last days in my transition from Monroe County, I have determined I have come to the best job in the state of Florida.”

The excitement about Burke’s appointment was palpable in the Lee County School Board chambers Friday morning, as district staff and community leaders like Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott came to see the new superintendent get sworn in by Lee County Circuit Court Judge John Carlin.

“This is the day we’ve been waiting for,” said School Board Chairman Tom Scott.

Burke told the crowd, which gave him a standing ovation after he was sworn in, that he was excited about the prospects in front of Lee County. He spoke of the district’s A grade from the state, saying not only did Lee County receive an A for the third year in a row, but it increased in points to get that A.

Still, Burke said he had an agenda to improve.

“If we hope to achieve our vision of a world-class school system, it means we have to push our limits,” he said. “We have to look at the future.”

Burke said his first priority will be to work with staff on a clear assessment of the schools and to focus on those schools with the greatest needs, as well as increasing achievement among minority students.

“There are also issues of an operational nature that school board members have talked to me about – transportation, school assignment,” he said. “I am going to have meetings to begin looking at the current status of those things.”

Burke said he also plans to address reading challenges in the school, particularly paying attention to growth at the high school level.

And while Burke said he was most excited about the people and working with the people in the district, he did say Friday he has plans to bring a couple of his own people into the district. One of those people will fill the vacant chief administrative officer position and the second will fill a vacant middle management position, he said.

Scott said he was “happy and relieved” Burke was taking the helm at Lee County.

“He will bring organizational change. He will push to develop where students are falling behind without giving up on the ones who are doing well,” he said.

Scott said he was aware that Burke planned to bring a few employees with him to Lee County and said he supported the superintendent’s decision.

“(Interim Superintendent) Dr. (Larry) Tihen did without people in key areas – to his credit because he wanted the new superintendent to have that ability,” he said. “It’s important Dr. Burke has people who know how he thinks and operates. … And sometimes folks from outside see problems the folks who have been here don’t see.”

Burke’s wife, Judy, told School Board members and the audience that when the board hired Burke, they hired her too. Judy Burke, who retired last year after a career with Florida Power and Light, said she was excited to begin volunteering her time.

“I plan to be a major volunteer,” she said. “I told the board, when they hired Joe, they got two for one.”

Board member Mary Fischer said she was excited about the process of choosing the new superintendent, particularly the public’s involvement, and she thinks the community will have a vested interest in Burke.

“I see forward and upward movement of Lee County schools,” she said. “I think Dr. Burke’s background experience will lend well as we target schools and … address anything that is a barrier to learning.”

Prior to coming to Lee County, Burke was appointed superintendent of Monroe County Schools in the Florida Keys by former Gov. Charlie Crist to fulfill the term of ousted Superintendent Randy Acevedo. A jury convicted Acevedo in August 2009 for trying to cover up the theft of school funds by his wife, Monique, a former adult education coordinator.

Prior to his work in Monroe County, Burke worked for the Miami-Dade School District for 27 years and was a superintendent in Springfield, Mass.

Burke, who has a three-year contract with Lee County that will pay him $185,000 in his first year, did not leave Monroe without some controversy. Burke was accused of a Sunshine Law violation for discussions he had with the president of the teacher’s union in Monroe County, which resulted in the development of a memorandum of understanding that was signed by the teachers and the district.

Burke has characterized the accusation as a “misunderstanding” and Lee County School Board members didn’t seem worried about the charges Friday.

“We are fully aware of the Sunshine Law,” said Fischer. “This board is determined to follow the rules.”

Scott agreed.

“I don’t think there’s anything to (the Sunshine Law violation claim),” he said.

Connect with K-12 education policy reporter Katherine Albers at www.naplesnews.com/staff/katherine-albers/.