Burt was an English teacher at Finneytown from 1977-1998, earned his B.A. in English from Wilmington College in 1967 and his M.Ed. in Special Education from Xavier University in 1970. He has taught English, Speech, and Theatre in both public and private schools for the past 38 years. He directed theatre at Finneytown High School for 25 years and was the former director of Theatre at Oxford Talawanda High School from 1970-1976.

In 1986, Mr. McCollom’s theatre department was recognized as a national Center of Excellence by the National Council of Teachers of English. He is the recipient of the Wilmington Theatre Award and a past recipient of the Friend of Education Award by the National School Public Relations Association for work with hearing impaired students. He has taught English as a Second Language at International Language Plus.

He is an active member of the Greater Cincinnati area community theater as an actor, director, and producer. He is a multiple Orchid Award winner for excellence in performance and direction in local community theatre. He is represented by the Heyman Talent Agency having done work in print advertising, voice-over, and industrial film and TV commercials. Most recently, Mr. McCollom has appeared in the independent film Beowulf, Prince of the Geats by local director Scott Wegener.

Burt and his wife, Michelle, the former assistant principal at Finneytown High School and principal of Finneytown Middle School, live in College Hill.