Tom Burton 

Superintendent
Princeton City Schools

Mr. Tom Burton, superintendent of Princeton City Schools, is a proven and dynamic school educator, well known and praised for his leadership. He believes that creating a collaborative environment with all stakeholders will help ensure that each child's needs are met. Serving as an educator since 1987 and at Princeton City Schools since 2015, Tom lives out the Princeton mission to empower each student for college, career, and life success. 

By being flexible, collaborative, and open to new learning, Tom feels we can truly inspire our students to be prepared for the real world and ensure that they make the world better than it is now. 

The Northwest Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce recently bestowed Tom the Community Champion Award for 2021.  Tom credits his colleagues and teammates for being recognized as a 2020 finalist for Heroes of Character, 2018 Business Person of the Year by the Sharonville Chamber of Commerce, winner of NASSP/MetLife Ohio Middle School Principal of the Year, Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Slippery Rock University, recipient of the Gordon Vars Lifetime Achievement Award, and Ohio Educator of the Year by the Ohio Middle-Level Association. He was inducted into the Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame and John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame (coach).


Tom is a sought-after speaker with recent engagements at the American Association of School Administrators, Institute for Education Innovation, National Superintendent’s Forum, Harvard University, and others. In July 2021, Tom was elected as one of three new members of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's Educational Advisory Council.  

In addition to his accolades, Tom is a fierce and vocal advocate for Princeton City Schools’ students and staff and advocates for all Ohio children and equitable opportunities in education statewide. He is a passionate and magnetic leader, dedicated father, and faithful friend.