July 16, 2024 (Washington D.C.)
This week, the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) remembers one of its Emeritus Board Directors, Bert Berkley, who passed away this week at the age of 101. A longtime civic leader, Bert came to IEL after collaborating with former IEL President Marty Blank as part of a “kitchen cabinet” working with the Kansas City, Missouri School District. Bert was asked by Marty to join the IEL Board, given Bert’s work in founding the Kansas City’s Local Investment Commission (LINC), which Bert “was delighted to do.”
Reflecting on what he thought other organizations should know about IEL in his 2022 interview, Bert noted “I think the most important thing is that school districts in this country should know about IEL’s involvement with other school districts, and how [their support] has been very beneficial to those particular school districts.”
“[Districts]…are going to be able to carry out their responsibilities in a more effective manner, simply because of what they can learn from the representatives of IEL who are servicing their communities…From my standpoint, IEL is such an effective teacher for those who have responsibilities and the teachers and individual executive administrators, to do a more effective job.”
“A true ‘People’s Champion,’ Bert’s transformative work with LINC and other partners was a testament to the power of communities,” shared IEL Senior Vice President Kwesi Rollins. “He knew that local families and community members are the voices we must prioritize in our schools – a key pillar of the Community Schools strategy.”
“We are grateful for Bert’s service to IEL and his long history of leadership in education,” said IEL President Eddie Koen. “His impressive life and dedication to literacy will not soon be forgotten by his fellow leaders working to improve the lives of children.”