Charleston’s Board of Education Gives Burgett the Nod as Next Superintendent

For Immediate Release – February 15, 2023

CHARLESTON, IL – Chad Burgett will assume the position of Charleston Community Unit School District #1 Superintendent effective July 1, 2024. At its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, the Board approved Burgett. In his twenty-seven years in education, Burgett has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. He will replace Todd Vilardo, who will retire on June 30, 2024, having served as the district’s superintendent for seven years.

A Charleston resident since 2007, Burgett brings a variety of experiences and a leadership style that will support the needs of the Charleston school district. He currently serves CUSD #1 as its assistant superintendent for business services, overseeing its annual budget, financial planning, and facilities improvements. Burgett also serves the district as a Title IX director, complaint manager, and crisis and emergency planning coordinator.

Burgett has enjoyed his experiences in education and is honored to serve as the next superintendent for Charleston CUSD #1. “Dr. Vilardo and our Board of Education have worked with our school community to establish a stability in our school district through the pandemic that maintains a focus on what’s best for students. Under his tenure, we initiated the county school facilities tax to allow for much needed building and campus improvements, initiated competency-based education and Leader in Me practices, and enhanced our public relations and communications activities. I am looking forward to continuing to move our district forward and providing our best for Charleston’s youth.”

Vilardo had praise for Burgett and the district’s future. “Mr. Burgett has been a tremendous asset to our school district for many years. He has not only excelled at managing the district’s finances with prudence and fidelity, his forward thinking leads to action that can be seen in our facilities improvements, for example. Perhaps most importantly, he has cultivated relationships among staff in that he is acknowledged as a trusted colleague who demonstrates courage to make principally-based decisions. I have full confidence that he will provide the needed leadership among our entire Board and administrative team for the approaching years.”

Originally from Marshall, Illinois, Burgett holds an associate’s degree from Lake Land College and bachelor’s, master’s and specialist’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University. He began his career in education as a sixth grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in 1997 and was named assistant principal for Carl Sandburg and Jefferson Elementary Schools in 2006. In 2007, Burgett began a principalship at Carl Sandburg Elementary and was named principal of Charleston Middle School in 2014. Since 2017, Burgett has served the district as its assistant superintendent for business services.

Chad and his wife, Angelia, who is employed as Tourism and Arts Director for the City of Mattoon, reside in Charleston. They have two children: Madison, 28, of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Logan, 29, of St. Louis, Missouri.