Q&A with New Board Member Jason Burton

We would like to extend our deepest thanks to Steve Burton, who served on the CAC Board of Directors for nearly 30 years. “It’s difficult to even begin to describe the impact of nearly 30 years of Board service by Steve Burton,” said Wesley Walls, chairman of the Board of Directors. “His tenure as an advocate, parent and grandparent, and then as a trustee is beyond remarkable. His loyalty, faithfulness, character and wisdom have had a lasting and immeasurable impact on the school. Steve’s influence can be felt throughout CAC’s successful history and continues to guide its vision for the future. We are humbled by his example of servant leadership and his enduring love for the school, its mission and its students. He will be greatly missed!”

Thank you for your service, Steve!

Jason Burton, one of the news members of CAC’s Board of Directors, is a CAC alumni (‘94), son of Steve Burton, husband to previous Board member and CAC faculty member Amy Burton, and father to two children. After graduating from Harding University with a degree in managerial accounting, Jason and his wife Amy returned to Little Rock to begin work and start a family.

Read more about Jason Burton, his family, and what he’s looking forward to as he takes on this new role with the Board of Directors:

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, and what brought you to central Arkansas.
I grew up in Little Rock and attended CAC from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. I then attended Harding University. After college I went to work in our family business at Burton Building Products. In 2003, my dad purchased CSA Software Solutions, and for the past 17 years, I have worked in that business where we sell accounting and utility billing software to cities and water associations. 

I married Amy Walters, as she was known at CAC. Our children are Davis, who is 19 and a freshman at Harding University, and Hannah, who is 15 and in 10th grade here at CAC. 

It’s no secret that the Burton family is a huge part of CAC’s history. Can you take us through some of that?
We definitely have deep roots here at CAC! Myself, my brother and my sister all went through CAC. My brother, Richard Burton, now works here, as well as my sister, Racheal Sargent. My dad was on the Board for many years, and my wife Amy has taught, been a teacher’s aide, been a substitute teacher, and served on the Board as well. Amy and I have been on the Development Council for quite a few years now.

CAC has truly been blessed by the Burton family and all the ways you have served the community. What influenced your decision to have your children attend school here?
My experience at CAC was a great one. I love this school, and my wife loves this school. There was never any doubt in our minds that when we had children, if we were in the area, they would attend CAC. 

CAC is a family, but it’s like an extended family for us. CAC has been an enormous part of my life and my family’s life. The teachers and the staff here are just a phenomenal group of individuals who genuinely care about their students. I’m confident that my kids’ time here has made them better people educationally, socially and spiritually.

We are so excited that you agreed to step into this role on the Board! You are in the unique position of being able to follow both your father and your wife as a member. As you enter this new season, what are you most looking forward to?
I’ve seen my dad, my wife and other members serve on the Board, and I am honored to be asked to join. I certainly look up to a lot of the members, and I’m looking forward to getting to know those who I don’t know as well. It is a great group of people, and I’m looking forward to serving with people who share my love for this school. 

I hope to be a good listener and assist in troubleshooting problems. I spend my day on the phone troubleshooting problems and coming up with solutions for our customers. As the Board looks forward to the challenges ahead, I hope to contribute in coming up with solutions to overcome those challenges. 

We are excited to see how you will contribute to the Board and to our school! As you know, the pandemic has complicated the way every organization, and especially schools, are operating. How are you looking to help as the leadership continues to make important decisions during this time?
I have been extremely impressed with the school, and I know the Board has worked hard to deal with this transition. I think that CAC has done an exceptional job of responding to this situation, and I’m looking forward to being involved in helping make those decisions in a time that is constantly changing. 

We’re proud of the way our faculty, staff, students and families have worked together with grace and mercy! Thanks so much for chatting with us. We have one last question, and it’s a fun one. What are things you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies or passions that bring you joy?
I enjoy cycling, walking our dog and just being outdoors. I enjoy all sorts of sports, but I especially enjoy going to watch Hannah’s soccer games. After a long day at work, I suppose I enjoy coming home, sitting on the couch and playing a video game or watching a good movie. I tend to gravitate toward the strategy games, so those are always fun.