High School principal Tanner Burton has been named the new superintendent of the Higbee School District.

Current superintendent Tyler Walker announced last month he will leave his post after three years to lead the Hallsville School District.

“I am excited to take on a new challenge in the role of superintendent, and I feel that it will allow me to leverage some of my business acumen,” Burton said.

Burton is not only the high school principal. For the last 11 years, he has also coached various girls’ and boys’ basketball teams. And Burton said he intends to keep coaching the high school teams even with the new job.

“I am thankful that I will continue to coach and keep my promise to coach the freshmen girls,” he said. “I promised them I would coach them until they graduate. A promise I made early in their junior high careers. This is the second time I have made a promise to coach until players graduate. I doubt this will be my last promise, keeping me planted at Higbee.”

Burton began coaching in the fall of 2013 while working outside the district. Since joining the district full-time, he has been in charge of ISS and the library, junior and high school special education, and taught physical education and business and marketing before becoming principal.

As a basketball coach at Higbee, he has led the high school girls for 11 years, the junior high for 10 years, the high school boys for six years (including a trip to the state final four), and the junior high boys for four years. He also served as an assistant softball coach for a year.

On Monday, Burton won his 250th varsity game as head coach when the high school girls and boys topped Bevier. (See Sports section for photos)

Burton said the school district has been growing and evolving in all areas in recent years and he intends to keep that trend going. “I’m extremely proud of the entire Higbee community and feel that we will accomplish a tremendous amount  together in the years ahead,” he said. “I am excited to continue working with staff, students, and stakeholders to ensure Higbee is one of the most well-rounded schools in mid-Missouri in all that we do.”

Burton will take over as superintendent on July 1.