Dan Burkhalter Named WEAC Executive Director

Dan Burkhalter, who has been director of government relations for the Illinois Education Association since 1993, is the new executive director of the Wisconsin Education Association Council. He will start May 2.

The WEAC Board of Directors approved the appointment of Burkhalter Friday (April 8, 2005). He succeeds Michael A. Butera, who left in November to take a position with the National Education Association. WEAC Legal Counsel Bruce Meredith has been acting executive director.

"I am honored to be selected as WEAC's new executive director," Burkhalter said. "WEAC is one of the most respected education associations in the country. WEAC has built a reputation for its strong commitment to great schools, to children and to the interests of its members, and I want to continue in that tradition."

Burkhalter has worked at the Illinois Education Association since 1982, first as a membership organizer, then as a government relations specialist before becoming director of government relations in 1993. Over the years, he has partnered with association leaders to promote quality public education and build a bipartisan political program that led to passage of improved benefits and funding for public education and school employees. Burkhalter was an architect of a comprehensive Illinois school funding reform coalition that included diverse labor, business, taxpayer and social service organizations.

Burkhalter and his wife, Sharon Corrigan, are celebrating their 20th anniversary this month. They have two daughters, Molly, 13, and Brighid, 9. Burkhalter also has a son James, 25, and a daughter Kourtney, 23.

Posted April 8, 2005