Shared Strategies for the Career Advancements of Assistant Principals

Dr. Tiffany McMillian Burks has been in education for over 20 years, working in both the private and public sectors. She has experience as a substitute teacher and has taught various subjects, including 3rd-grade subjects, 6th-8th grade English Language Arts, and Drama for 9th-12th graders. In 2003, Dr. Tiffany McMillian Burks was named a Model Classroom Teacher by the Cumberland County Schools district in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Dr. Tiffany McMillian Burks obtained her Master's degree in Administration and Middle Grades Education. Her leadership roles outside the classroom have included Academic Facilitator, Innovative Grant Coach, and Assistant Principal. She earned her doctorate in Leadership Education from Fayetteville State University. She has always believed that with the right resources, all students can learn, and anyone desiring to lead effectively can do so with ethics. She recalls one of her professors emphasizing that an individual's true self is revealed through leadership. In her various roles, she has consistently advocated for the inclusivity of all.

Dr. Tiffany McMillian Burks was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but her stepfather's military service provided her with the opportunity to live in Germany twice. Despite the challenges of transitioning and missing her friends, she values the experiences that living abroad provided. This period of transition taught her the importance of fostering a sense of belonging within the educational community for everyone.

Dr. Tiffany McMillian Burks considers herself wise not solely due to her educational experiences but also recognizes that God granted her the opportunity to live through these experiences. She acknowledges that without His presence, the peace to navigate these challenges would not have been possible.

Although her beautiful mother had only one child, a decision she's grateful for, it allowed Dr. Tiffany McMillian Burks to rest during her childhood as an only child before raising her 5 beautiful children with the help of family and friends. Dr. Burks also acknowledges the blessing of having wonderful brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.