Vermont Business Magazine Incoming Superintendent of the Burlington School District Yaw Obeng has been granted an H-1B Visa and is expected to begin work in the District in the next few weeks. Burlington School Board Chair Mark Porter announced that the sought-after clearance was obtained when a faculty position at the University of Vermont became available that matched Obeng’s credentials. “We have been working with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service ever since the board selected Yaw to be our next superintendent,” said Porter. “This is great news for the District and for our students.”
Yaw Obeng
Key to finalizing this stage of the process was an opening for a part-time adjunct professor in UVM’s College of Education and Social Services with credentials in the area of teaching English Language Learners, a field in which Obeng has significant experience. The position became available over the summer.
“It is common practice in higher education for working professionals in the field of education to also teach college-level courses,” said Cynthia Gerstl-Pepin, Interim Dean of the College of Education and Social Services.
“A number of superintendents across the nation also serve as adjunct professors given their field expertise. We’re very excited and fortunate to have someone of Yaw’s caliber join our faculty,” said Gerstl-Pepin.
Obtaining the H-1B Visa allows Obeng to work in the United States, while the District continues to pursue the longer-term O-1 Visa.
Obeng recently served as Superintendent of the Halton District School Board outside of Toronto, Canada. Following a nationwide search and an extensive community outreach effort that yielded a pool of 60 applicants, the incoming superintendent was the first choice of the 18-member hiring committee, and had the overwhelming support of the School Board.
Board Chair Porter and Dean Gerstl-Pepin agree that this arrangement is a natural fit.
“Burlington School District and the College of Education began developing a partnership several years ago,” said Porter. “We’re part of the same community, and appreciate the University’s continued commitment to our working closely to benefit the people and students of Burlington.”
According to Gerstl-Pepin, more than 250 of the college’s majors work in surrounding schools as student teachers, counselors, social workers and community service volunteers.
“UVM is greatly strengthened by having Mr. Obeng’s expertise in school change, English Language Learners and diversity issues benefit our students,” she said.
Acknowledging that the process has taken longer than the Board had hoped, Porter said it has been well worth the wait.
“Burlington is a district with both great opportunities and challenges,” he said. “We have been quite fortunate to have had Howard Smith as our Interim Superintendent. He served masterfully, and has prepared the District well for the transition to our permanent superintendent. I’m truly excited for this next chapter in our District and the education of our kids.”