Thomas Burkett, Ph.D.

Head of School

Dr. Tom Burkett, affectionately known as Dr. B., began his journey in Arlington, Virginia, but at the age of two, his family moved to the tranquil town of Altavista, Virginia. Although he cherished small-town life, destiny led him to Richmond when his father was transferred there when he was nine. In November 2002, Dr. Burkett and his wife embarked on a remarkable journey by establishing Banner Christian School.

As a dedicated father, Dr. Burkett is proud of his two children, McKinley and Michael. McKinley currently serves as the Assistant Women's Soccer Coach at Liberty University, while Michael excels as a Certified Golf Coach at Golftec in Midlothian. In addition to their family, they have acted as "parents" to 18 international students over the years.

Dr. B's passion for sports runs deep. He actively participated in soccer, basketball, and baseball during his high school years and continued his baseball journey at Liberty University. His wife's accolades include being the starting shooting guard on her Maryland state championship basketball team. Their daughter, McKinley, made her mark in soccer at the University of Tennessee and Liberty University, even earning a spot on the United States Women's U17 National Team. Their son, Michael, carved his legacy as Banner's all-time leading scorer with an impressive 2,000+ varsity points. When Dr. Burkett's not immersed in education, you're likely to find him either watching a game or honing his golf skills.

Dr. Burkett's academic journey comprises three degrees, including an undergraduate degree in Sport Management from Liberty University, a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Averett University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Leadership from Columbia International University.

Driven by his unwavering commitment to Christian Education, or Kingdom Education, Dr. Burkett believes he has been called by God to nurture the next generation of Christian leaders. His mission extends to inspiring students, parents, faculty, and staff to deepen their relationship with the Lord.

In the limited spare time he manages to find, Dr. Burkett enjoys playing golf and cherishes quality family vacations. Join him on a transformative journey in the pursuit of Christian excellence.