Bruce Wayne Burgess, 68, special-education teacher and supervisor

IT WAS all about the kids.

Bruce Burgess was dedicated to educating students with special needs.

He spent much of his career with the Philadelphia School District as an administrator in charge of the special-education programs in dozens of schools, from kindergarten to high school.

But his first love was teaching.

"He was an outstanding teacher," said former colleague Anne Barnosky, a retired teacher and administrator. "He always wanted to make sure the kids got what they needed."

Bruce Wayne Burgess, who taught and supervised the education of special-needs students under two schools superintendents, and who in his spare time ran an antique store in Germantown and was an avid collector of African-American art, died June 12 of kidney disease. He was 68 and lived in North Philadelphia.

Bruce received his doctorate in education from St. Joseph's University in 2005, but shortly afterward had to retire because of illness.

"He missed the kids," Anne Barnosky said. "He wanted to go back to work, but he couldn't."

Bruce served under superintendents Constance Clayton (1982-93) and David Hornbeck (1994-2000). They had their own ideas about how to structure public education, including how to deal with special-needs students.

It didn't matter to Bruce Burgess. He worked just as smoothly in each system, his only concern being that the special-needs students got a fair shake and the right education to prepare them for the challenging urban world they eventually would confront.

Bruce had as many as 27 schools under his supervision at one time, and he had to work with each to be sure they were doing the job the way he wanted it done.

He was born in Philadelphia to Adelaide Moore and the late Albert Burgess. He attended Gillespie Junior High School and graduated from Simon Gratz High.

He went on to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree in education. He received a master's degree in special education from Trenton State University.

Bruce started his career as a biology teacher at University City High School. After being certified as a special-education teacher, he taught at a number of schools before moving into administration under Constance Clayton.

In 2001, he was able to get back to his first love - the classroom. He resumed his teaching of special-ed students at the Ethel Allen Elementary School in North Philadelphia.

As an antiques dealer, Bruce specialized in house cleanouts and featured interior objects such as old mantelpieces.

He gained a local reputation for his collection of African-American art, and sometimes loaned artifacts to local museums. He especially prized a letter written by the famed educator Booker T. Washington.

In addition to his mother, Bruce is survived by a daughter, LaSonya Starks, and seven grandchildren.

Services: Memorial service 11 a.m. Saturday at Corinthian Baptist Church of Germantown, 6100 N. 21st St. Friends may call at 10 a.m.