Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

My name is Akeem Kareem Burl, and I am pleased to announce my candidacy for St. John the Baptist Parish School Board Member District 7, #71.

I am the 32-year-old son of the late Irene Snyder Burl and Albert Burl, Jr. I am a proud graduate of East St. John High School Class of 2008 and Southeastern Louisiana University where I received my bachelor of arts in English with a concentration in creative writing. I am currently a graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University where I am pursing my masters in strategic communication.

In my professional career, I was previously employed as an Advocate Supervisor with Child Advocacy Services CASA Program where I advocated for children in foster care. I served in this capacity for four years before taking on my current position with St. Charles Parish 29^th Judicial District Court as a Juvenile Compliance Officer. In my current role, I monitor youth’s compliance with court orders through juvenile programs that put services and resources in place to address not only the youth’s needs, but the family as well.

I am a member of Milesville Memorial Church of God in Christ under the pastoral leadership of Bishop Ronald Frank. I am a member of the praise team as well as a youth leader in the Youth Ministry Department. I currently serve as the Chairman of St. John Parish Recreation Advisory Board. I am a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. where I serve as the Reporter for the Hammond Alumni Chapter.

I have always been active and engaged in the community, whether employed as a Lifeguard for St. John Parish Recreation, volunteering at many community and church events, or hosting youth events to help inspire and empower our youths.

If elected, I plan to:

• Establish rapport with school administrators to identify needs and areas of improvement within the school
• Target Special Education to address needs and ensure that students are receiving the proper accommodations and support as it pertains to their IEP/504 plans
• Advocate for Disciplinarians and/or Youth Mentors in the schools to assist with behavioral needs of students
• Advocate for Mental Health resources to provide to students on campus
• Work to include Trauma Informed Training for Teachers throughout the parish
• Advocate for the promotion and hiring of native, homegrown professionals
• Advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion throughout St. John Parish School System

• Work to develop a SJBP Student Council to elevate the voice of students as stakeholders in our system
• Work effortlessly to improve equity in salary and increase in pay for ALL employees in the district
• Advocate for additional research-based resources and qualified personnel to support ESL/ELL students and their families
• Advocate for district sponsored adult learning opportunities and alternate school day learning opportunities for select students
• Engage in a routine volunteer cycle to serve and support from within the schools
• Implement multifaceted initiative to track alumni progress after graduation and render support to new graduates for up to 2 years after completion of high school in SJBP
• Reestablish school libraries to function as resource to promote literacy across the curriculum
• Introduce “School to Prison Pipeline” to school administrators and staff, and work improve this issue throughout the school system.